Greensboro, NC (3/2/08) – The Montclair State baseball team rallied for two runs in the top of the ninth to cut the deficit to one, but the Red Hawks couldn't get the tying run across the plate as MSU fell to Greensboro College, 6-5 on Sunday.

Senior Kevin Cuozzi (Langhorne, PA / Neshaminy) and junior Stephen Piscitello (Hauppague, NY / Hauppague) each had two hits for Montclair (1-1).

The Red Hawks fell behind 1-0 in the bottom of the second, but took the lead in the top of third inning with two runs. Michael Nunes (Hazlet, NJ / Raritan) led off witha double and Cuozzi and Piscitello walked and singled, respectively to load the bases. Greensboro came up with a line-out double play, but Jeff DellaPiazza (Summit, NJ / Summit) lined a single to right field to tie the game at 1-1. Vicente Medina (North Bergen, NJ / Paramus Catholic) followed with an RBI single of his own as Montclair led 2-1.

Greensboro countered with three runs in their half of the inning and after Rob Clark (Livingston, NJ / Seton Hall Prep) cut the deficit to 4-3 in the sixth with an RBI single, the Pride struck for two more in the bottom half of the inning to take a 6-3 lead.

Montclair began its rally in the ninth as Rob Bowness (Sparta, NJ / Seton Hall Prep) led off with a pinch-hit double and moved to third on a passed ball. Junior Ed Kloepping (Pennsville, NJ / Pennsville) lofted a sacrifice fly to score Bowness, making the score 6-4. Aftter a second out, Jeff Miller (Wyckoff, NJ / Ramapo) kept the inning alive with a base hit and Jerry Casale (Rockaway, NJ / Morris Hills) added another single before Medina walked to load the bases. Lou Politan (Livingston, NJ / Livingston) also walked to force home Miller and MSU had the tying run 90 feet away. But reliever Nevin Fulcher got the next hitter to bounce into a fielder's choice to end the game and preserve the win for Greensboro.

Cuozzi was 2-for-3 at the plate while Piscitello had two hits in four at-bats as MSU out hit Greensboro, 12-8.

The Red Hawks return to action on Friday, March 7 as they travel to Maryland for a weekend series with Salisbury University. MSU will face the Sea Gulls at 2:00 pm on Friday and then have the day off on Saturday before completing the series on Sunday, March 9 at Noon.