Little Falls, NJ – Junior leftfielder Rob Clark and LOU POLITAN each drovein two runs to highlight a four-run, seventh inning as 30th-ranked Montclair State knocked off fifth-ranked Salisbury University forthe second time this season, 5-3 in NCAA Division III Baseball actionat Yogi Berra Stadium on Thursday afternoon.

MARC DECASTRO had two hits and an RBI for the Red Hawks (26-15-2),who also defeated the Sea Gulls, 9-2 back on March 5 in Maryland.

Greg Lemon had three hits and two runs batted in for Salisbury, which finished its regular-season at 36-8. The Sea Gulls will now head to the NCAA Division III RegionalTournament, which is set to begin on Wednesday, May 17. Salisbury earned its trip by capturing the Capital Athletic Conference Championshipback on April 23.

Salisbury jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second as Alex Vitale led off with a doubleand moved to third on a ground out. Lemon then drove in the run as he slapped a single through the right side. Montclair State would answer in its half of the inning. ANDREW VICARO singled to open the inning and scored as DeCastro laced a double up the right-center gap scoring Vicaro from first.

Salisbury would regain the lead in the sixth as it pushed a run across. Pete Callahan walked, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and went to third on an errant pickoff throw. Lemon then singled to center giving the Sea Gulls a 2-1 lead.

MSU would strike in the bottom of the seventh. MICHAEL NUNES collected an infield single and moved to second on an error. DANNY RODRIGUEZ then drew a walk and the two moved up on a sacrifice by BRIAN BUTLER. ROB BOWNESS was intentionally walked to load the bases. Clark then stepped to the plate and roped a base hit to left center scoring Nunes and Rodriguez, giving Montclair a 3-2 lead. After a groundout, Politan stroked a single through the middle for the final two Red Hawk runs.

The Sea Gulls would get a run back in the ninth as Jason Lively (Gambrills, MD/Arundel) singled went to second on a ground out, third on a wild pitch and scored on Nick Pegelow's (Seaford, DE/Seaford) ground out.

MSU reliever KEVIN DALTON picked up the win with two scoreless innings. Dalton struck out three as he improved to 2-0. TIM STRINGER recorded the final three outs in the ninth to earn his third save of the season. Bryan Brainer suffered the loss as he fell to 5-1.

Lively had three hits for Salisbury which was outhit in the game, 10-7. Nunes had two hits for MontclairState.

The Red Hawks will now head to Ithaca College for single games on Friday, May 12 and Saturday, May 13. Montclair will then wait to see if they earn one of the at-large berths to the NCAA Championship. Bids for the tournament will be announced on Monday, May 15.