Wayne, NJ – Freshman centerfielder MICHAEL MURPHY went 3-for-4 and drove in four runs as Montclair State used an early offensive explosion then held off a William Paterson rally late for a 12-9 victory at Jeff Albies Field on Thursday afternoon.

Senior right fielder ANDREW OLLWERTHER homered and PETER COSENTINO had three hits and two RBI for the Red Hawks (19-5), who won their fourth straight and moved into a second-place with the Pioneers (20—6) at 11-4 in the NJAC. The two teams are scheduled to meet again on Friday, April 30 at Yogi Berra Stadium with the first pitch scheduled for 3:30 pm.

The 200th meeting between the local rivals got off on the right foot for Montclair State, which scored twice in the top of the first inning. JOE NORTON manufactured the first run as he walked, went to second on a sacrifice, got to third on a balk, and scored on a passed ball for the game's first run. Ollwerther added the second with a solo shot giving MSU a 2-0 lead.

The Pioneers jumped back on top in the bottom of the second with one swing of the bat as Dan Carter blasted the first of his two homers, this one a three-run shot.

MSU answered in the top of the third, scoring 10 times as it sent 14 batters to the plate. MILES FEASTER led off with a double and scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 3-3. Murphy put the Red Hawks in front with a two-run single with an ANTHONY GUARINO RBI base hit making the score 6-3.

HAYDEN REYES delivered a run with a ground out and Feaster drove in another with his second hit of the inning widening the lead to 8-3. Cosentino smacked a base hit through the left side driving in Norton and Feaster. Murphy capped the inning with a two-run double, his third and fourth RBIs of the inning, giving the Red Hawks a 12-3 lead.

WPU did not go away and chipped away at the lead using the long ball. Steve Yelin belted a two-run homer in the fifth and Colin Lombardo's two-run blast in the sixth cut the deficit to 12-7. Carter drew the Pioneers to 12-9 in the eighth with a two-run homer, his second of the game.

Leading by three, Montclair turned to reliever CHRIS LUM, who entered with a runner on first and no one out. The right-hander struck out the first batter and allowed a base hit before getting a comebacker for the second out. Lum issued a walk loading the bases but escaped the jam by fanning the next hitter to end the threat.

In the ninth, William Paterson would get a runner on with two outs, however, Lum got a pop-up to end the game as he recorded his fourth save of the season.

Lefthander SEAN LEWANDOSKI picked up the victory as he improved to 3-0. Lewandoski went the first 5 1/3 innings, striking out three and walking four. Jason Palmeri (4-3) suffered the loss for WPU.

Feaster, Guarino, and ERIC HAVNER each had two hits for MSU, which collected 15 in the game.