Lakewood, NJ - In game three of the NJAC Tournament Montclair State rallied to defeat Ramapo College 5-1 in the elimination bracket.
With two losses Ramapo is the first team eliminated from the double elimination tournament. The Roadrunners fall to 22-15 overall while the Red Hawks improve to 23-14.
Ramapo jumped on top first plating one run in the bottom half of the fourth inning. Junior Jefferson Infante (Bronx, NJ/Bronx) led off the inning with a single to centerfield. After a fielders choice and single loaded the bases, secondbaseman Mike Lallis (Berkley Heights, NJ/Bernards) was hit by a pitch for the RBI and first run of the game.
MSU then rallied late in the game in the top of the eighth scoring four runs to take the lead. Pinch-hitter
MATT BENEDETTI (Summit, NJ/Summit) stroked a two out, two RBI double with the bases loaded. Senior
MIKE WEISS (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape Regional) then followed with a two RBI single for the 4-1 advantage.
The Red Hawks then tacked on a single run in the ninth off an RBI single by sophomore
DANNY RODRIGUEZ (South Brunswick, NJ/South Brunswick).
Sophomore
ALEX THOMPSON (Whippany, NJ/Whippany Park) picked up the win in relief. Thompson (2-1) tossed 2 2/3 innings allowing just one hit while also striking out two and walking one.
Justin Ottman (Garnersville, NY/Garnersville) suffered the loss for the Roadrunners. Ottman (4-3) threw 7 2/3 innings allowing four runs on six hits. Ottman also fanned 10 and walked four.
Offensively for Montclair Weiss finished 2-for-4 with two RBI. Brad Szatkiewicz (Branchville, NJ/High Point Regional) collected two hits for Ramapo.
Montclair State will now face William Paterson in game number five of the NJAC tournament in the elimination bracket tonight at 7:00pm.
