Montclair, NJ – Junior E.J. MELENDEZ and three relievers combined on a five-hit shutout as MARCO MONTEIRO drove in three runs to lead the Montclair State baseball team to a 15-0 win over Rutgers-Newark Sunday.

The Red Hawks (15-4, 7-3 NJAC) outscored the Scarlet Raiders (1-9, 1-9 NJAC) 27-2 in the two meetings this season.

Montclair State wasted little time, scoring seven runs while sending 11 men to plate in the top of the first. Senior JOE NORTON led off the game with a single and moved to third on a fielder's choice and an error. Sophomore MILES FEASTER, who reached on the fielder's choice, swiped second, and Norton scampered home on the throw. Senior ANDREW OLLWERTHER brought home a pair with a single before base hits by MICHAEL MURPHY and JASON MOORE loaded the bases. Monteiro slapped a hit to left, which scored two before Norton and Feaster collected RBI's to cap off first inning scoring.

After surrendering two hits in the first, Melendez retired the next nine hitters as Montclair was able to tack on three more runs in the fourth. Junior PETER COSENTINO reached on an infield single, and the errant throw by the pitcher allowed Feaster to score from second. Cosentino would come around on a fielder's choice before ERIC HAVNER brought Murphy in with a run-scoring groundout. Robert Gonzalez to break up Melendez's nine straight retired streak, but he was erased on a 6-3 double play.

With two outs in the fifth, Cosentino drove home HAYDEN REYES, who led off the inning with a single through the right side. Melendez capped off his afternoon by getting a strikeout to close out the sixth. Monteiro knocked in his third run of the afternoon with a run-producing groundout before Reyes brought Reese Malek home. Malek had pinch-hit earlier in the inning for Havner and lined a double to right-center. TYLER HIGGINS relieved Melendez in the seventh and got a big strikeout for the third out with men on second and third.

Montclair finished off the scoring in the seventh, adding two runs without a hit. JUSTIN SILVA and CHRIS LUM each tossed perfect innings to close out the game. Silva needed just 11 pitches to record two strikeouts, while Lum got a fly-out and two groundouts in the ninth to give MSU the victory.

Cosentino was a perfect 4-for-4 at the dish, as everyone starter collected at least one hit. Melendez earned his second win of the season, tossing six innings while striking out a career-best six.

The Red Hawks return to the diamond on Thursday as they host Kean University, with the first pitch scheduled for 3:30 pm.