Montclair, NJ – Junior third baseman KEVIN ALONSO hit a walk-off single with two out in the bottom of the ninth lifting Montclair State to a 5-4 victory over Ramapo College in the second game of the NJAC home-and-home set on Friday afternoon.

The Red Hawks managed just three hits in the game but collected two of them in the ninth inning for the winning run as it gained a split of the two-game set with the Roadrunners. Montclair (7-9, 2-2 NJAC) lost 5-3 in Mahwah on Thursday.

Second baseman Joe Venturino went 4-for-4 and drove in two runs for Ramapo (14-7), which suffered its first conference loss of the season (3-1 NJAC).

Montclair scratched across a run in the bottom of the first. RYAN LONG led off with a walk and stole second base. One out later, PHILIP SCOTT drew a free pass and CHRISTOPHER REYNOLDS was hit by a pitch loading the bases. Leftfielder KEITH MURPHY bounced a ball to third by managed to beat throw first on the double play attempt allowed Long to score for a 1-0 lead.

The Roadrunners drew event in the top of the third. Berger was hit by a pitch leading off the inning was sacrificed to second before scoring on Venturino's two-out single through the right side of the infield.

Ramapo starter Mike Campbell retired 10 in a row after allowing the run in the first and had not yet given up a hit when MSU regained the lead in the fifth scoring three times taking advantage of three Roadrunner errors. The first came on the leadoff hitter COREY MARTIN, whose fly ball to open the inning was misplayed. Two batters later, Alonso bounced a ball to Campbell at the mound that was not fielded cleanly putting runners on first and second with one out.

Campbell then lost command of the strike zone walking the next two batters, including the second against HECTOR GONZALEZ that forced home PETER PENA giving MSU a 2-1 lead. Scott then hit a ground ball to short that glanced off the fielder and into center allowing Long and Alonso to score as the Red Hawks, who still had not recorded a hit in the game, led 4-1.

Ramapo got a run back in the sixth as Werr and Paulus opened the inning with back-to-back doubles making the score 4-2. Montclair finally put a hit on the board in the bottom of the sixth on Long's sharply hit ball through the left side.

The Roadrunners tied the game in the seventh. Dela Cruz walked and went to second on a sacrifice before Venturino smacked a single to center bringing Ramapo within 4-3. Werr tied the game with a single to left field scoring Venturino.

In the bottom of the ninth, Campbell fanned the first hitter but allowed Martin to reach on an infield single, MSU's second of the game. Righthander Kyle Doerr entered the game and got a strikeout for the second out. With Alonso at the plate, Martin stole second which proved to be key as he easily scored three pitches later when Alonso lined a single up right-center gap for the game-winning run.

The hit made a winner out of freshman righthander AUSTIN MINTON (1-1), who picked up the win with 2 1/3 scoreless innings. Junior lefthander MICHAEL MACCHIA went the first 6 2/3 innings allowing seven hits and four runs with three strikeouts and three walks.

Campbell suffered his first loss (2-1). The righty gave up two hits and five runs, only two earned. He struck out six and walked five.

Montclair State returns to action to on Saturday, April 4 with an NJAC doubleheader at fifth-ranked Kean University. First pitch of the twinbill at Jim Hynes Stadium will begin at 11:30 am.