MONTCLAIR STATE SWEEPS RUTGERS-CAMDEN, 12-2 & 8-1

Camden, NJ (March 29, 2008) – The Montclair State University baseball team combined for 23 hits in a doubleheader, including four apiece by senior first baseman Lou Politan (Livingston, NJ/Livingston) and junior third baseman Stephen Piscitello (Hauppauge, NY/Hauppauge) as it swept past Rutgers University-Camden, 12-2 and 8-1, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday at Campbell’s Field.

The Red Hawks improve to 8-7 overall and 3-0 in the NJAC, stretching their winning streak to four games. Rutgers-Camden, which has lost five straight games, falls to 6-12 and 0-3.

In the first game, Montclair State plated all the runs it needed with five unearned tallies in the second inning, aided by three hits, two walks and a pair of errors. The big hit was a two-run single by senior center fielder Michael Nunes (Hazlet, NJ/Raritan).

The Red Hawks added four more runs in the sixth inning on two walks, a hit batsman, an error and three hits, including a run-scoring double by senior catcher Jeff Miller (Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo). They completed their big day with a three-run seventh, highlighted by a two-run double from junior first baseman Jason Lopez (West New York, NJ/Memorial).

For the game, Piscitello went 2-for-2 with one run, while senior right fielder Robert Clark (Livingston, NJ/Seton Hall Prep), sophomore center fielder Joseph Zembryski (Rutherford, NJ/St. Peter’s Prep) and senior designated hitter Jerry Casale ((Rockaway, NJ/Morris Hills) each scored two runs. Lopez and Nunes had two RBIs apiece.

Red Hawks starter Michael Vitale (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) collected the win to raise his record to 2-1. The junior lefty worked six innings, allowing eight hits, two runs (one earned) and two walks. He struck out five.

Rutgers-Camden collected two hits apiece from sophomore right fielder Steve Myers (Millville, NJ/Millville), senior shortstop Shawn Park (West Berlin, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton), sophomore catcher Greg Hunt (Marlton, NJ/St. Joseph-Hammonton) and junior second baseman Dean Straga (Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Regional).

Junior southpaw Damien Wright (Millville, NJ/Millville) took the loss, working five innings, allowing six hits, seven runs (one earned) and walking five. Wright (2-4) struck out five.

The Red Hawks scored runs in the first four innings of the nightcap to take a 7-1 lead on the way to their win. They broke open the game with three runs in the top of the second innings. The big blow came on a two-run triple by Nunes to snap a 1-1 tie.

Politan went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Piscitello and Nunes each went 2-for-4 for Montclair State.

Red Hawks senior righty Tim Stringer (Annandale, NJ/North Hunterdon) worked the first five innings, allowing only one hit and one unearned run, to collect his first win of the season. Stringer (1-2) walked one and struck out six.

Rutgers-Camden collected only two hits off four MSU pitchers, with both Myers and Hunt collecting a single.

Rutgers-Camden sophomore starter Jordan Cohen (Rockledge, PA/Abington) took the loss to fall to 1-3. He worked three innings, allowing seven hits, six runs (five earned) and two walks. Cohen fanned one.

Both teams play non-conference road games on Tuesday. Rutgers-Camden has a 3:30 p.m. makeup game at Catholic University of America, while Montclair State plays a 4 p.m. game at Eastern Connecticut State University.