NEWARK, NJ – Freshman second baseman Matt Connors went three for four with a pair of bunt singles and Rutgers-Newark took advantage of early pitching troubles by Montclair State to post a 9-3 New Jersey Athletic Conference win in Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium.

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Sophomore righthander Jack Winters evened his record at 3-3 by blanking the Red Hawks over the first seven innings. He struck out seven and walked four while giving up just three hits.

The Scarlet Raiders (9-11, NJAC 2-3) jumped out to a 6-0 lead at the end of two innings with sophomore third baseman Joe Furnaguera capping a two-run first with a two-out, two-run single to left before Rutgers-Newark scored four runs in the second on a single by Connors, three walks and two hit batters to chase starter D.J. Cunningham.

RAIDER VISION HIGHLIGHT VIDEO

The lead swelled to 9-0 before the Red Hawks (9-8, NJAC 3-1) pushed across three runs in the ninth highlighted by RBI singles by reserve leftfielder Jerry Casale and back-up catcher Mike Ercolano.

Furnaguera went two for five with three RBI on the day and junior catcher Gerard Russomanno had a two run double in the sixth as the Raiders maximized seven hits against five Montclair State pitchers.

Sophomore designated hitter Anthony Yeswita scored three runs, drove in a run when hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the second and doubled to lead off the sixth.

Senior centerfielder Michael Nunes had the only extra-base hit for the Red Hawks, a one-out double to centerfield in the third. Montclair State got three of its six hits in the final inning.

Rutgers-Newark visits William Paterson at 3:30 p.m. tomorrow for another NJAC game while Montclair State is set to host Ramapo in a conference doubleheader at noon on Saturday.