Little Falls, NJ: Sophomore third baseman Christian Spurr (Warren, NJ / Watchung Hills) went 3-for-5, homered and drove in three runs as Ramapo College took the first of a home-and-home series with Montclair State with a 9-5 victory at Yogi Berra Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
Junior first baseman Dan Moreno (Cranford, NJ / Cranford) and junior centerfield Lee Rozins (Bedford, NJ / Fox Lane) each drove in two runs as the Roadrunners won their second straight and seventh time in their last eight games, improving to 15-3 overall, 2-1 in the NJAC.
Senior centerfielder Michael Boggi (Towaco, NJ / Montville) belted a homer while freshman third baseman Cody Pace (Milltown, NJ / Spotswood) drove in a pair of runs for MSU, which had its four-game winning streak snapped with the loss. The Red Hawks are now 10-6 overall, 2-1 in the league.
Junior righthander Matt Jenisch (Pompton Plains, NJ / Pequannock) picked up the victory, his first of the season (1-1). Jenisch held the Red Hawks in check before running into trouble in the eighth inning. The righty allowed five runs on seven hits in 7 2/3 innings striking out three and walking four. Sophomore rightander John McNeill (Staten Island, NY / Tottenville) recorded the final four outs for his third save.
Freshman lefthander Jonathan Torregroza (Bound Brook, NJ / Immaculata) took the loss for MSU falling to 0-2. Torregroza gave up six runs (four earned) and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings fanning four and issuing two walks.
Boggi's third home run of the season, a lined shot that ducked just inside the left field foul pole, gave Montclair State a 1-0 lead in the fourth. Ramapo would answer back in the top of the fifth. Rob Dimperio (Jackson, NJ / Jackson) singled to open the inning and Pat Driscoll's (Sparta, NJ / Sparta) sacrifice was misplayed putting runners at first and second. Rozins' single to center tied the game at 1-1 and Moreno put the Roadrunners up with a two-run single with the bases loaded for a 3-1 advantage.
The Roadrunners would extend the lead to 6-1 in the seventh as Spurr drilled a 1-2 pitch over the left field fence for a two-run homer, his second of the year. Dan Mauriello (Monroe, NY / Monroe Woodburry) added a RBI single to cap the inning.
Montclair State got a run back in the bottom of the seventh and after Ramapo tacked on a run in the top of the eighth got to 7-5 in bottom half with three runs. Pace doubled to right center for two runs and later scored on a wild pitch. But McNeil got the final out to end the threat and Ramapo added two more runs in the ninth on a balk and RBI single by Rozins.
Moreno, Driscoll, Rozzins and Kevin Knox (Matawan, NJ / Matawan) each had two hits for Ramapo, which collected 14 in the game. Pace and Andrew Himmelfarb (Nyack, NY / Nyack) recorded two hits apiece for MSU.
The two teams will square off again on Friday, April 8 in Mahwah, NJ beginning at 3:30 pm.