Little Falls, NJ (4/13/07) – Junior centerfielder Michael Nunes (Hazlet, NJ/Raritan) went 2-for-4 with four RBI while senior catcher Jeff Miller (Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo) drove in three runs as Montclair State knocked off No. 25 Ramapo College, 12-5 in NJAC Baseball action at a cold and blustery Yogi Berra Stadium on Friday afternoon.

Junior first baseman Lou Politan (Livingston, NJ/Livingston) added a pair of runs batted in for the Red Hawks, who gained a season split with the Roadrunners, avenging a 6-5 loss to Ramapo in Mahwah back on March 30. MSU also evened its record at 12-12 overall while improving to 5-3 in the NJAC.

Junior rightfielder Jairo Jimenez (Bronx, NY/Dewitt Clinton) was 2-for-4 and belted a three-run home run for Ramapo, which fell to 22-6 overall this season, 7-2 in the NJAC while having its four-game winning streak snapped.

Montclair State jumped out to a 2-0 in lead in the first inning as Nunes drew a leadoff walk and Politan reached on a catcher's interference. Miller then sliced a double to right-centerfield that scored both runners. Ramapo would answer in the third as Garry Miller (Washington Township, NJ/Washington Township) walked to open the inning and Justin Rabinowitz (Martinsville, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) drew a two-out base on balls before Jimenez connected for his third homer of the year and a 3-2 Ramapo advantage.

That lead would be short-lived as MSU scratched out a pair of run in the bottom half of the inning. Marc Palestina (Paramus, NJ/Paramus) doubled with one out and Rob Clark (Livingston, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) was hit by a pitch. MSU loaded the bases as Andrew Himmelfarb's (Nyack, NY/Nyack) fielder's choice was misplayed and it tied the score as Kevin Cuozzi (Langhorne, PA/Neshaminy) brought home Palestina with a fielder's choice. Montclair would take the lead as Clark scampered home from third on a wild pitch.

MSU would extend the lead to 7-3 in the fifth. Clark and Himmelfarb were each hit by pitches and Cuozzi's infield single loaded the bases for Nunes, who sliced a doubled down the right field line to bring home all three runners. Montclair added four runs in the sixth on RBI singles by Himmelfarb and Nunes and a two-run single by Politan. Miller capped off the scoring in the eighth as he bounced a single up the middle to drive home Joseph Zembryski (Rutherford, NJ/St. Peter's Prep).

Righthander Tim Stringer (Annandale, NJ/North Hunterdon) picked up the victory as he came within an out of recording his second complete game of the season. Stringer (2-4) allowed just three hits through the first eight innings before Ramapo strung together three more in the ninth and two runs courtesy of Joe Cacchiola's (Union, NJ/Union) two-run double. Stringer struck out 10 and walked five.

Sophomore righthander Joe Abruzzo (Clark, NJ/Arthur L. Johnson) suffered the loss, his first of the year. Abruzzo (4-1) gave up four runs (two earned) and three hits in three innings. He struck out two and issued three walks.

Miller was 2-for-4 at the plate for Montclair State while Andrew Vicaro (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) also had two hits.

Both teams return to action on Saturday, April 14 with home NJAC doubleheaders. Montclair State will take on The College of New Jersey at Yogi Berra Stadium beginning at Noon while Ramapo hosts Rowan University at Jeff Maund Field at the same time.