Union, N.J. (5/7/11) – Senior Michael Boggi (Towaco, NJ / Montville) recorded a two-out RBI bloop single to right in the top of the 15th to break a 1-1 tie and keep Montclair State University’s playoff hopes alive as they defeated Rutgers-Newark, 2-1, Saturday afternoon in game eight of the New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament.

With the win MSU (20-16) advances to take on Rowan University in an elimination game this afternoon.  Rutgers-Newark falls to 22-18 and is eliminated from the tournament.

The Red Hawks scored in their first at-bat as leadoff hitter Mickey McGraw (Morristown, NJ / Morristown) reached base via an error.  A successful sacrifice moved him over and after a fly out catcher Kevin Bond (Cedar Grove, NJ / Cedar Grove) laced a double to put MSU ahead, 1-0.

The Scarlet Raiders tied things up in the bottom of the third as Michael Cassese led off the inning with a walk.  A successful bunt by Matt Connors moved him into scoring position and senior Patrick Reitemeyer took advantage with an RBI double to left.

The score would stay that way until the top of the 15th as second baseman Andrew Himmelrfarb (Upper Nyack, NY / Nyack) led off the frame with a single to left-center.  Small ball moved him to second and a groundout moved him to third with two outs before centerfielder Boggi dunked a ball into rightfield for an MSU 2-1 lead.

The Scarlet Raiders appeared to be right back into it as Reitemeyer doubled down the rightfield line to start off the bottom of the 15th.  But a comebacker to the pitcher caught Reitemeyer between second and third and after a rundown the Red Hawks erased the runner in scoring position.  Reliever Dylan Papa (South Plainfield, NJ / South Plainfield) then forced a flyout and struck out the final batter on a full count to seal the win.

Both starters pitched well past an average outing as Newark starter Ryan Williams tossed 10 and two thirds innings allowing just four hits and one unearned run while striking out eight and walking four with 147 pitches.  MSU starter Jonathan Torregroza (Bound Brook, NJ / Immaculata) was equally impressive as he threw 11 and a third innings allowing one run and eight hits, fanning three and walking two with 122 pitches.

Papa earned the win and improved to 2-2 allowing just two hits in two and a third innings of relief.  He walked one and fanned three.  Matt Larangera suffered the loss for Rutgers-Newark.  Larangera 2-1 allowed one earned run in four and a third innings.

Offensively Boggi was 2-for-7 for the Red Hawks while Reitemeyer was 3-for-6 in the loss for the Scarlet Raiders.