Box Score

NEWARK, NJ – Second seeded Montclair State University defeated the fourth seed Rowan University, 7-2 in game nine of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament on Sunday. The game was played at Bears and Eagles Stadium in Newark, NJ.

Montclair State (26-15) will face top seeded Kean University (33-9) in the championship game on Monday, May 5 at Bears and Eagles Stadium. The first game will start at 1 p.m. If Montclair State defeats Kean in the first contest a second game will be played at 4 p.m. Earlier on Sunday, Kean defeated Rowan (30-12), 18-9 and Montclair State eliminated fifth seeded William Paterson University (23-19) with a 10-1 victory.

Right hander Tim Stringer (sr. Annandale, NJ/North Hunterdon) pitched a complete game for the Red Hawks. Stringer (5-5) scattered seven hits and struck out nine batters. Right hander Anthony Cavalier (fr. Sewell, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) took the loss (3-1) on the mound for the Profs.

Montclair State was led by designated hitter Rob Bowness (gr. Sparta, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) with three hits (five at bats, a double and two runs scored. Left fielder Ed Kloepping (jr. Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville) went two for five with a double, two RBIs and one run scored. Second baseman Andrew Himmelfarb (so. Nyack, NY/Nyack) was one for three with two RBIs and one run scored. Center fielder Michael Nunes (sr. Hazlet, NJ/Raritan) added two hits (five at bats) and two RBIs.

For Rowan, right fielder John McMullin (jr. Woodbury, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) recorded two hits (two at bats) and one RBI. Third baseman Tom Ready (jr. Blenheim, NJ/Triton Reg.) went two for four. Second baseman Joe Franceschini (sr. Toms River, NJ/Toms River E.) drove in one run, while third baseman Paul Urbanovich (sr. Rutherford, NJ/St. Peter’s Prep) scored once.

Montclair State scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Nunes hit a two run single, bringing in third baseman Stephen Piscitello (jr. Hauppauge, NY/Hauppauge) and Himmelfarb. Catcher Jeff Miller’s (sr. Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo) sacrifice fly plated shortstop Kevin Cuozzi (sr. Langhorne, PA/Neshaminy). Rowan cut the deficit to two (3-1) with one run in the top of the sixth. McMullin singled up the middle, plating Urbanovich. The Red Hawks added three runs in the seventh. Kloepping had a RBI single and Himmelfarb singled in Bowness and Kloepping. In the eighth, Kloepping doubled to right center field and Bowness came home. The Profs got one run in the top of the ninth when Franceschini drove in pinch hitter Tom Reindel (jr. Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central) with a single.