LITTLE FALLS, NJ – Freshman second baseman Matt Connors went three for five to pace Rutgers-Newark, but Montclair State survived six errors to post a 13-10 New Jersey Athletic Conference win in Yogi Berra Stadium.

NCAA Statistics

Senior leftfielder Doug Ford capped a four-run third inning by hitting a bases-loaded single to rightfield which was misplayed to allow three runs to score and give the Scarlet Raiders (12-13-1, NJAC 4-5) an early 4-0 lead. The big inning was spurred by three Red Hawk errors.

But Montclair State (13-9, NJAC 6-2) erupted for seven runs on four hits, four walks and a Raider error in the fifth to take a 9-4 lead. The Red Hawks, who earned a split of the regular-season series with the win, tacked on three runs in the sixth and one in the eighth to keep safely ahead of Rutgers-Newark.

Sophomore starter Dan Nodarse (1-2) got the loss, giving up 11 hits and eight runs in four and a third innings while striking out one and walking one. Junior reliever Robert Adams, who came on to quell the fifth inning outburst, went one and two thirds, yielding four runs on five hits while striking out two and walking three.

The Raiders scored single runs in the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth innings.

In the sixth, junior catcher Matt Halligan singled ahead of a double by freshman shortstop Patrick Reitemeyer to lead off the inning before Halligan scored on a two-out infield error.  Reitemeyer joined classmate Connors as the only Raiders with two or more hits in the game.

In the seventh, senior first baseman Dan Zika led off with a double to right centerfield, moved to third on an error and scored on a fielder's choice.

In the eighth, Connors tripled to leftfield and scored on a sacrifice fly by junior rightfielder Brian Gill.

In the ninth, junior Christian Diaz drove a pinch-hit home run to left centerfield. It was Diaz's second roundtripper of the season.

Tomorrow, Rutgers-Newark hosts Richard Stockton in an NJAC doubleheader in FirstEnergy Ballpark at 4 p.m.