Mahwah, NJ - The Ramapo College baseball team defeated the Red Hawks of Montclair State, 9-6 today at Jeff Maund Field in Mahwah earning the #4 seed in the 2004 New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship Tournament.

The Roadrunners improve to 22-13 overall, 11-7 in the NJAC while the Red Hawks fall to 22-13 overall, 12-6 in the conference.

Ramapo took an early 3-0 lead in the 1st after Aaron Eyler (Edison, NJ) scored as Jon Lopez (Bronx, NY) reached on an error and Doug Meier (Clifton, NJ) and Doug Aday (Dallas, TX) crossed on a two run single to right by sophomore Joe Rivisto (Bronx, NY).

The Roadrunners added three more in the 2nd taking a 6-0 lead over the Red Hawks when Jefferson Infante (Bronx, NY) cracked a three-run homerun over the center field wall with one out. Infante's homer scored Meier and Aday who reached on an error and ripped a single to get on base respectively.

Montclair closed the gap, 6-2 in the 4th with a two-run homerun by junior MATT BENEDETTI (Summit, NJ) scoring PJ Baccarella (Bayonne, NJ) who led off the inning with a single to left. Montclair scattered one in the 5th and one in the 6th with a solo homerun by BRIAN BUTLER (Wyckoff, NJ) and a TOMMY WARTH (Secaucus, NJ) RBI single respectively closing the gap, 6-4.

Ramapo added insurance runs in the 6th by Rivisto and Infante off a triple to center by Brad Szatkiewicz (Branchville, NJ). On the next play Mike Lallis (Clifton, NJ) laid down a squeeze bunt scoring Szatkiewicz from third.
Rivisto hit 3-4 with one run and two RBI while Infante went 1-5 with two runs and three RBI. Aday batted 1-2 with two runs and Szatkiewicz posted two hits on four at bats with one run and two RBI in the victory.
For the Red Hawks, Baccarella went 3-5 with two and one while MIKE WEISS (Mount Laurel, NJ) hit 2-3 with one run of his own.

Rookie pitcher Dave Coohon (Haskell, NJ) pitched the final 1 2/3 innings, striking out three letting up no runs and no hits earning his 2nd save of the year. Pat Tuthill (Doylestown, PA) earns the win striking out four in 7/1/3 innings. Tuthill improves to 4-4 on the year.

JAY COOK (Westfield, NJ) recorded the loss striking out four and walking four, letting up five hits and six runs (two earned) in 4 innings pitched. Cook falls to 2-1.