Montclair, NJ – Senior righthander CONNOR LINDSAY pitched eight solid innings while JOE FOOTE drove in a pair of runs as Montclair State captured the first game of a home-and-home series with New Jersey City University, beating the Gothic Knights 6-1 at Yogi Berra Stadium on Thursday afternoon.

PHILIP SCOTT and BOBBY GRAMER had two hits apiece for the Red Hawks, who improved to 11-18 on the season, 4-7 in the NJAC with the win. NJCU fell to 11-14, 2-9 in conference play.
The two teams are scheduled to meet again on Friday, April 21 at the Thomas M. Gerrity Complex in Jersey City, NJ with first pitch set for 3:30 pm.

Lindsay upped his record to 5-2 on the season with his fourth consecutive win as he allowed two hits and an unearned. The righty struck out eight and walked two. ANTHONY DEBLASIO closed out the game striking out two in a scoreless ninth.

Lefthander Mike Ramirez took the loss for NJCU. Ramirez (1-3) went the first 7 1/3 giving up seven hits and six runs (five earned). Ramirez fanned three and issued four walks.

NJCU took a 1-0 lead in the third inning. Jeff Reinecke reached on an error to start the inning and a perfectly placed hit-and-run single by Taylor Born put runners at first and third. Lindsay was able to minimize the good start getting a double-play that scored Reinecke and a line out to end the inning.

Montclair scratched out a run in the fourth to tie the game at 1-1. Scott led off with a double down the right field line, the first hit against Ramirez. He would get to third on a passed ball and scored as Foote grounded out to shortstop.

The Red Hawks moved in front the following inning. JUSTIN BATES reached second on a two-base error to open the inning and MSU loaded the bases on a hit by pitch to RYAN LONG and a bunt single by KEVIN CAMPBELL. Like Lindsay, Ramirez was able to quell a big inning with a double-play of his own and then picked off the runner at third to end the threat as Montclair State led 2-1.

Lindsay kept that lead intact getting two outs on a grounder and fielder's choice after a base hit by Joe Coutinho. Lindsay then picked off the running to end the inning.  MSU extended the lead in its turn at bat with three runs for a 5-1 advantage. JOE NORTON tripled scoring Scott with the first run. Foote added another on a ground out and Bates delivered a two-out RBI single that brought home BOBBY GRAMER.

RYAN LONG accounted for the final Montclair State run with an RBI single in the eighth inning.

Born had two of the three Gothic Knight hits in the game.