Montclair, NJ – Junior BRIAN REISS tossed his second complete game as Montclair State earned a split of its New Jersey Athletic Conference opener with Ramapo College at Yogi Berra Stadium on Saturday. The Red Hawks (8-8, 1-1) captured the first game 5-2 before falling in the second contest, 11-1.

Reiss improved to 2-1 on the year as he allowed 12 hits but only one earned run. The lefty fanned five and walked one. CJ Growney (1-3) took the loss to the Roadrunners (7-8, 1-1 NJAC). ANDREW OLLWERTHER and HAYDEN REYES each went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Ramapo took a 2-0 lead in the second inning as Bryan Franko doubled down the left field line for the first run of the game. Kyle Lisa followed with a single to right center.

Montclair took the lead in the bottom of the second putting together a two-out rally. NICK MARTINEZ singled to open the innings however Growney fanned the next two hitters. Reyes kept the inning going with a base hit and JUSTIN BATES walked to load the bases. JOE NORTON doubled down the left field line tying the game at two before a Dominick Leuizzi infield single brought home Bates for a 3-2 lead.

The Roadrunners nearly tied the game in the third as Kyle Buser doubled and went to third on a base hit by Vincent Timpannelli. Phillip Mahlik popped up into the outfield with Buser scampering home on the play. However, that was nullified as Buser was called out for leaving the base early keeping MSU in front.

Montclair added to its lead in the bottom of the inning. DANIEL CLEMENTE walked, stole second and came home on an Ollwerther single. Ollwerther swiped second base and scored as Reyes slapped a single to center field.

The rest of left up to Reiss, who had to work his way out of a jam in the ninth as Ramapo loaded the bases with one out. He would escape with a short fly out and force play to end the game.

In the second game, the Roadrunners scored eight of their 11 runs in the second and third innings. Lisa had an RBI double in the second for a 2-0 lead and Vincenzo Sita doubled in two in the third as Ramapo led by four. Timpanelli's RBI double in the fourth put the visitors up 8-0.

That was more than enough for starter Kevin Stewart (2-0), who went seven innings allowing three hits and a run with eight strikeouts. TYLER DIEFENBACH (2-2) took the loss for the Red Hawks. PETER COSENTINO went 3-for-4 at the plate with DONALD GONNELLI driving in the lone Montclair run on a sacrifice fly in the fourth.

MSU is in action again on Monday, April 1 hosting Cabrini University at Yogi Berra Stadium first pitch is slated for 3:30 pm.