Mahwah , NJ : The Ramapo College baseball team defeated the Red Hawks of Montclair State, 9-6 today at Jeff Maund Field in Mahwah earning the #4 seed in the 2004 New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship Tournament. The Roadrunners improve to 22-13 overall, 11-7 in the NJAC while the Red Hawks fall to 22-13 overall, 12-6 in the conference.

Ramapo took an early 3-0 lead in the 1st after AARON EYLER (Edison , NJ ) scored as JON LOPEZ (Bronx , NY ) reached on an error and DOUG MEIER (Clifton , NJ ) and DOUG ADAY (Dallas , TX ) crossed on a two run single to right by sophomore JOE RIVISTO (Bronx , NY ). The Roadrunners added three more in the 2nd taking a 6-0 lead over the Red Hawks when JEFFERSON INFANTE (Bronx, NY) cracked a three-run homerun over the center field wall with one out. INFANTE'S homer scored MEIER and ADAY who reached on an error and ripped a single to get on base respectively. Montclair closed the gap, 6-2 in the 4th with a two-run homerun by junior Matt Benedetti (Summit , NJ ) scoring PJ Baccarella (Bayonne , NJ ) who led off the inning with a single to left. Montclair scattered one in the 5th and one in the 6th with a solo homerun by Brian Butler (Wyckoff , NJ ) and a Tommy Warth (Secaucus , NJ ) RBI single respectively closing the gap, 6-4. Ramapo added insurance runs in the 6th by RIVISTO and INFANTE off a triple to center by BRAD SZATKIEWICZ (Branchville , NJ ). On the next play MIKE LALLIS (Clifton , NJ ) laid down a squeeze bunt scoring SZATKIEWICZ from third. The Roadrunners held the Red Hawks in the final innings recording the 9-6 victory in Mahwah.

RIVISTO hit 3-4 with one run and two RBI while INFANTE went 1-5 with two runs and three RBI. ADAY batted 1-2 with two runs and SZATKIEWICZ posted two hits on four at bats with one run and two RBI in the victory. For the Red Hawks, Baccarella went 3-5 with two and one while Mike Weiss (Mount Laurel , NJ ) hit 2-3 with one run of his own.

Rookie pitcher DAVE CAHOON (Haskell , NJ ) pitched the final 1 2/3 innings, striking out three letting up no runs and no hits earning his 2nd save of the year. PAT TUTHILL (Doylestown , PA ) earns the win striking out four in 7/1/3 innings. TUTHILL improves to 4-4 on the year. Jay Cook (Westfield , NJ ) recorded the loss striking out four and walking four, letting up five hits and six runs in 4 innings pitched. Cook falls to 2-1.

Ramapo will travel to Waterfront Stadium on Friday, May 7th for a 1:00 PM start against the #1 seeded Profs of Rowan University.