Montclair, NJ - Senior shortstop Cody Pace (Milltown, NJ, Spotswood) collected a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth as Montclair State slipped past third-ranked Kean University, 4-3 in the first game of an NJAC home-and-homne set at Yogi Berra Stadium on Thursday afternoon. The two teams meet again on Friday, April 4 at Jim Hynes Field in Union, NJ at 3:30 pm.

Sophomore lefthander Michael Macchia (Middletown, NJ, Middletown North) went the distance for the second time this season as the Red Hawks (6-8) won the conference opener while beating Kean (16-5, 1-2 NJAC) for just the third time in the last 15 meetings between the teams. Macchia (3-0), allowed nine hits, struck out five and walked one in tossing the third complete game of his career.

Pace's hit closed out an intense game between the teams that included a little of everything - clutch at bats, key outs and a few solid defensive plays with each team also capitalizing on the other's miscues.

Freshman rightfield Ryan Long (Washington Township, NJ, Washington Township) led off the bottom of the ninth inning for Montclair State with a walk against reliever Chris Amato (Wayne, NJ / Wayne Hills). Lou Martini (Flemington, NJ, North Hunterdon) sacrifice Long to second and a base hit by catcher Anderson Rosa (Perth Amboy, NJ, Perth Amboy) put runners at the corners. Christopher Reynolds (Randolph, NJ, Randolph) then bounced a ball to short that was scooped up by Ryan Reitmeyer (Lacey Township, NJ / Lacey) who then fired a strike to home plate to nail Long for the second out of the inning. Pace then got behind in the count before drilling a 1-2 pitch into deep centerfield. Kean centerfielder Shane Alvarez (Franklin, NJ / St. Joseph's (Metuchen)) made an alll-out effort to track the ball however the ball was just out of his diving reach allowing pinch runner Matt Long (Washingtin Township, NJ, Washington Township) to score with the winning run.

The walk-off win was the second this season by Montclair State as the Red Hawks defeated 12th-ranked Marietta in Florida 5-4 on March 10. In addition it was Pace's second career walk-off hit as he belted a solo home run in the 10th inning to beat TCNJ 11-10 at home on April 28, 2012.

Montclair State grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Ryan Long walked and later stole second before scoring on a base hit by Reynolds. Kean answered back in the top of the second as an Alvarez fielder's choice knotted the game however Montclair retook the lead 2-1 in its half of the inning on a fielder's choice RBI by Ryan Long.  The Red Hawks extended the lead to 3-1 in the fifth manufacturing a run. Reynolds singled with one out, stole second and went to third on a throwing error before scoring on a wild pitch.

Kean cut the deficit back to 3-2 in the sixth taking advantage of an MSU error that turned into an RBI single by Sal Taormina (Brooklyn, NY / Xaverian) and the Cougars tied the game the next inning when Tyler Smarslok (Jackson, NJ / Jackson Liberty) singled home Andy Lopez (Jackson, NJ / Jackson Memorial) from second base with two outs. Smarlslok would get to third on a wild pitch however he was stranded there as Macchia fanned the next hitter to end the inning.

MSU would get a chance to go back on top in the bottom of the seventh but came up empty. Martini led off with a single and an error on Reynolds' one-out grounder put runners on first and second.  P.J. Jennings (Morris Plains, NJ, Morristown) walked with two outs to loaded the bases. Kean went to the bullpen and brought in Amato, who fell behind 3-1 against Mike Tolerico (Wayne, NJ, Wayne Valley). But the Cougars pulled off a brilliant defensive play with Amato picking off Reynolds at second to end the inning.

Senior righthander Nick Zucchero (Hamilton, NJ / Steinert) got the start for the Cougars and went the first 6 2/3 innings giving up three runs and five hits, striking out five and walking one.

Taormina finished 3-for-4 at the plate for Kean with Smarslok getting two hits. Reynolds went 2-for-5 for Montclair State.