MONTCLAIR, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | The New Jersey City University baseball team led 1-0 but strong pitching by Montclair State University limited the Gothic Knights to three hits as MSU scored three times in the sixth inning and defeated NJCU, 6-1, in the opening game of a New Jersey Athletic Conference home-and-home series on April 20 at Yogi Berra Stadium.
 
NJCU (11-15, 2-9 NJAC) scored on a ground ball in the third inning before Montclair (11-18. 4-7 NJAC) held the Gothic Knight bats in check.
 
MSU junior right-handed pitcher Connor Lindsay (New Egypt, N.J.) improved to 5-2 as he allowed just one unearned run and two hits in 8.0 innings, while striking out eight (two walks) before turning it over to junior righty Anthony DeBlasio (Toms River, N.J.) who allowed one hit with two strikeouts in the ninth.
 
NJCU junior left-handed pitcher Mike Ramirez (Old Bridge, NJ/Saint Joseph-Metuchen) (Old Bridge, N.J./Saint Joseph-Metuchen) threw well in 7.1 innings, allowing just seven hits, but suffered the loss (1-3). He struck out three (four walks), against five earned runs.
 
Senior third baseman Taylor Born (South Plainfield, NJ /South Plainfield) (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) had his second multi-hit game in three outings, batting 2-for-4.
 
Senior center fielder Philip Scott (Paulsboro, N.J.) was 2-for-3 with two runs for MSU while junior designated hitter Joe Foote (Wallington, N.J.) drove in two runs. Freshman left fielder Bobby Gramer (Allentown, N.J.) was 2-for-3 with a run scored.
 
NJCU's run in the third came when a fielding error and a single by Born put two runners before a ground ball pushed the lead run in on a double play. MSU tied it in the fourth when Scott led off with a double and scored on a ground out by Foote. MSU moved in front in the fifth when a double play allowed an unearned run to come in for a 2-1 advantage.
 
But up by one, the Red Hawks scored three runs on three hits in the sixth. An RBI triple by freshman third baseman Joe Norton (Cranford, N.J.) plated Scott, who led off with a walk, before he scored on another Foote groundout for a 4-1 lead. An RBI single made it 5-1 before MSU added a sixth run in the eighth inning.
 
OF NOTE:

• Senior right fielder Joe Coutinho (Colonia, NJ/Colonia) (Colonia, N.J./Colonia) had one hit, the 115th of his career in 120 games while starting for the 100th time. He moved past Justin Pelka (1996-99, 114 hits) for 28th place on the hits list.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The two schools complete the series in Jersey City on Friday, April 21 at 3:30 p.m. at NJCU's Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex. Follow the live broadcast and live stats.
 
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