Auburndale, FL – Freshman righthander TYLER DIEFENBACH pitched seven strong innings while sophomore MIKE CANNAVO recorded a six-out save as Montclair State closed out its Florida trip with a 4-1 win over Lawrence University in the RussMatt Invitational on Friday afternoon.

Sophomore catcher ANDREW OLLWERTHER had two hits and an RBI as the Red Hawks squared their record at 4-4 and snapped a three-game losing streak. Montclair now returns home and is scheduled to host Manhattanville College on Tuesday, March 19 at 3:30 pm.

MSU was able to scratch out a run in the bottom of the fourth. Ollwerther drew a one-out walk and went to second as CHRISTOPHER WALKER drew a bases on balls. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch with Ollwerther coming home on an error with two outs for the 1-0 lead.

The Vikings (1-2) tied the game in the fifth however Montclair State went back on top the following inning as Ollwether was once again involved. He opened the inning with a single and scored two batters later as JASON MOORE tripled up the gap in left center.

Montclair increased its lead in the seventh scoring twice more as the Red Hawks took advantage of two Lawrence errors. Dominick Leuizzi walked to lead off the inning, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored as a sacrifice by KYLE FORCINI was misplayed. Two batters later, Ollwerther lofted a sacrifice fly scoring PETER COSENTINO for a 4-1 lead.

Cannavo came on in the eighth and after issuing a walk to his first batter, retired the next six including a pair of strikeouts in the ninth to nail down the victory. That made a Diefenbach (2-0) a winner for the second time this week. The first-year righty went the first seven innings allowing four hits and struck out eight while working his way around five walks.