Clearwater, FL - Junior rightfielder ETHAN BOYD (Perth Amboy, NJ/Perth Amboy) drove in two runs to back a solid pitching effort from freshman JAIRO MENDEZ (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) as Montclair State won its third straight with an 8-4 victory over Colby-Sawyer in the Clearwater Invitational on Monday morning.

MIKE HALLIGAN (Pompton Plains, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) and JAY COOK (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) each had two hits and an RBI for the Red Hawks (3-2), who improved to 3-0 at the Invitational. Shortstop Justin Litchfield had two RBI for Colby Sawyer.

Montclair jumped out to a 4-0 lead as they scored twice in each of the first two innings. Boyd plated DANNY RODRIGUEZ (So. Brunswick, NJ/So. Brunswick) with an infield hit and PAUL SAMMARCO (Bergenfield, NJ/Bergenfield) singled through the left side to score Boyd for a 2-0 MSU lead after one.

In the second, BRIAN BUTLER (Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo) drew a leadoff walk, stole second and scored on error before Halligan lined a single down the left field line to bring in MARC DECASTRO (Haddon Heights, NJ/Paul VI).
Boyd's RBI single in the fourth put the Red Hawks ahead, 5-0, however, Colby-Sawyer answered with two runs in their half of the fourth and singles runs in the fifth and sixth to cut the deficit to one. Jon Clay and Lichtfield had RBI singles in the fourth and Mark McKinnon scored on an ground out to make the score 5-3. Lichtfield then drove in his second run in the sixth on a groundout.

MSU then slowly pulled away with a run in the eight off a single from BRETT PICARO (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) and two more in the ninth as Cook collected an RBI single and MIKE WEISS (Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) scored on an error.

Mendez (1-0), making his first collegiate start, went seven innings allowing four runs (three earned) and four hits, striking out five and walking one. ALEX THOMPSON (Whippany, NJ/Whippany) closed out the game retiring all six batters he faced.

Greg Genst took the loss. Genst surrendered five runs and seven hits in five innings.

MSU continues its action in the Clearwater Invitational on Tuesday, March 16 as it plays Ripon College (Wisconsin) at Noon.