Montclair, NJ - Sophomore righthander
AUSTIN MINTON tossed a complete game as Montclair State split its New Jersey Athletic Conference at Rowan University on Saturday. The Red Hawks (14-14, 5-5 NJAC) fell to the Profs (15-13, 4-4 NJAC) in the first contest 9-2 before rebounding for a 5-2 victory.
Minton (3-2), MSU's closer a year ago, recorded his first career complete game as he allowed four hits and two runs. The righthander struck out seven and walked one. Conner Walsh (0-1) took the loss for Rowan.
Rowan jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as Jason Clapper doubled down the left field line scoring Brett Phillips with the game's first run. The Red Hawks answered with a four-run second inning to take their first lead of the afternoon.
PHILIP SCOTT led off with a single and
KEVIN ALONSO drew a one walk. Scott would via an error on a grounder hit by
RYAN THIEME tying the game.
AARON KANE followed with a single putting MSU in front. Brothers
RYAN LONG and
MATT LONG each added an RBI as Montclair led 4-1.
Minton would allow a run in the second but bore down after that retiring 21 of the final 24 hitters he faced.
MSU added to its lead in the fourth as Kane lead off with a walk and moved to third on a pair of outs.
MATT LONG brought Kane home with an infield single.
MATT LONG and
KEVIN ALONSO had two hit each for Montclair State.
In the opener,
RYAN LONG gave Montclair State a 1-0 lead in the first inning however the Profs got that back in the second inning on back-to-back doubles. The Profs then exploded for eight runs in the second as they sent 12 batters to the plate.
DOM LAMPASONA, who had the game-winning RBI in Friday's win over William Paterson, had a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth to account for the fina MSU run.
Lefthander
MICHAEL MACCHIA suffered the loss falling to 4-2 on the season.
MATT LONG and
PETER PENA had two hits apiece for the Red Hawks.
Montclair State returns to action on Tuesday, April 19 with a makeup contest at Neumann Unviersity which was postponed on April 4. The Red Hawks and Knights will square off in Aston, PA at 3:30 pm.
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