Newark, NJ  – Rutgers-Newark senior righthander Tom Abair (Old Bridge, NJ/Old Bridge HS) blanked Montclair State on five hits for seven innings as the Scarlet Raiders posted a 9-0 New Jersey Athletic Conference win in Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium.

Abair (4-2) struck out four and walked four to share the shutout with freshman righthander Justin Szablicki (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) and senior lefty closer Michael Hansen (Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus) as the Scarlet Raiders (14-14, NJAC 5-3) got in to the thick of the NJAC race.  The Red Hawks (15-8, NJAC 6-3) saw a 5-game winning streak snapped while Rutgers-Newark won its sixth straight contest.

Senior first baseman Matt Lingo (Mechanicsburg, PA/East Pennsboro) went three for three with a solo home run in the second inning while rookie centerfielder Owen Harshaney (Dunellen, NJ/Dunellen) drilled a two-run homer in the eighth inning.

Sophomore catcher Anthony Palladino (Emerson, NJ/Emerson) roped a 2-run double down the leftfield line in the third to spark a 3-run Raider rally.

Junior centerfielder MICHAEL BOGGI (Towaco, NJ/Montvale) was the only Red Hawk with two hits.

The Red Hawks return home to Yogi Berra Stadium on Saturday, April 17 as they host Richard Stockton in an NJAC doubleheader beginning at 11:30 am.