Clearwater, FL - The Montclair State baseball team split a pair of games at the Clearwater Invitational on Wednesday. MSU had its three-game winning streak snapped with a 13-3 loss to Trinity (CT), but rebounded with a 5-1 triumph over Ripon (WI) later that evening.

Second baseman DANNY RODRIGUEZ (So. Brunswick, NJ/So. Brunswick) had two hits against Trinity while JUSTIN LORENTZEN (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) and COLIN FENEIS (Spotswood, NJ/Spotswood) combined on a three-hitter in the win over Ripon as the split left MSU's record at 4-3 overall, 3-1 in the Clearwater Invitational.

Against Trinity, Montclair State led 2-0 as PJ Baccarella (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) scored on an error in the second and MATT BENEDETTI (Summit, NJ/Summit) belted a solo home run in the fourth. Trinity then took the lead in their half of the inning with three runs. The Red Hawks tied the game in the fifth as BRIAN BUTLER (Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo) delivered an RBI single, however, Trinity exploded for nine runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 12-3 lead.

Chris Rodday picked up the win for Trinity as he went the distance in the seven-inning contest. Rodday allowed three runs (two earned) and four hits, striking out five and walking two. MICHAEL OCEJO (East Hanover, NJ/Hanover Park) took the loss (0-1).

In the second game with Ripon, Lorentzen overcame some wildness (7 walks) to earn his first win of the season (1-0). The lefthander surrendered just two hits and one run while striking out five. Feneis went the final 3 2/3 innings allowing a hit and six strikeouts to earn his first save of the year.

The Red Hawks trailed 1-0 before taking the lead in the sixth with three runs. ETHAN BOYD (Perth Amboy, NJ/Perth Amboy) tied the game with an RBI single and catcher PAUL SAMMARCO (Bergenfield, NJ/Bergenfield) put the Red Hawk in front with a two-run double.

MSU added another run in the seventh in as MIKE HALLIGAN (Pompton Plains, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) drove in a run with a single and the final run came home in the ninth as JAY COOK (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) single and came around to score on an error.

Montclair State completes its play in the Clearwater Invitational on Thursday as it faces Allegheny College at 11:00 am. It will be the first meeting between the two since 2000 when MSU posted a 10-3 win at the NCAA Division III World Series en route to the national championship.