Ewing, NJ - After a one week layoff due to weather postponements, Montclair State entered back into conference play with a split against The College of New Jersey Sunday afternoon. MSU picked up the victory in game one, 3-1 while falling in game two 9-8 in Ewing, NJ.

Montclair is now 8-11-1 on the season, 3-4 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, while TCNJ is now 15-6-1, 5-4 in the NJAC.

In game number one, the Red Hawks entered the third inning tied at one. Senior JOE GIACOMIAZZIO (East Brunswick, NJ/E. Brunswick) doubled home the go-ahead run, BRIAN SHEEKEY (Palm Coast, FL/Father Lopez) who reached on a walk.

Third baseman DANNY RODRIGUEZ (South Brunswick, NJ/S. Brunswick) then added an insurance run in the top of the fourth as he led off the inning with a double and later scored on a wild pitch.

Junior JEFF GOGAL (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) pitched his first complete game of the season. Gogal (4-1) allowed just four hits (all singles) and one unearned run. He also fanned nine and walked just one.

Game two turned into an offensive matchup as both teams combined for 25 hits, after hitting just seven combined in game number one. Both teams seesawed for the lead, tying on three different occasions.

The Lions took the lead for good in the bottom of the eighth inning. Jamie Riese scored on a Red Hawk miscue to tie the game at eight and centerfielder Jason Gumnitz scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch.
Reliever ALEX THOMPSON (Whippany, NJ/Whippany) suffered the loss for Montclair State. Thompson (0-3) allowed two runs, one earned, in 2/3 of an inning.

Giacomiazzio led the offense with a 4-for-8 performance. He also drove in five, three on a first inning blast in game number two. Teammates Rodriguez and Sheekey contributed with three hits apiece on the afternoon.