2016 NJAC Baseball Championship Central | Box Score (MSU/WPU) | Box Score (MSU/Ramapo) | William Paterson Recap | Ramapo Recap

UNION, NJ --- Sophomore second baseman Joe Foote drove in three runs early in the day and then had two in the evening, including the game-winner in the ninth as Montclair State knocked off William Paterson and Ramapo College in the NJAC Baseball Championship at Kean University on Saturday.

The Red Hawks (23-19) defeated WPU 8-6 in the morning and then rallied with two runs in the eighth and one in the ninth to down Ramapo, 5-4. The victories move MSU into the NJAC Championship round for the second time in three seasons and the title game for the first time since 2006. Montclair will face either Ramapo or The College of New Jersey at 4:00 pm with the winner claiming the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship.

NJAC Fireman of the Year Taylor Parsons got the save in the opener and then picked up the win in the Ramapo game helping Montclair to its first win against the Roadrunners in four tries this season.

Ramapo scratched out a run in the top of the first inning as Connor Walsh singled with two outs brining home  Nick DeAngelis, who led off the game with a base hit. It stood 1-0 until the sixth when the Red Hawks plated a pair of runs. Ryan Thieme singled and went to second on an error. After Matt Long walked, Thieme stole third and came home as Foote singled through the left side. Two batters later Kevin Campbell lofted a sacrifice fly for a 2-1 MSU advantage.

Ramapo answered in the seventh with three runs, including a bases-loaded walked to Chemis putting the Roadrunners back in front, 3-2. Walsh's fielder's choice added another for the two-run lead.

Montclair rallied to tie the game in the eighth. Matt Long walked and went to third as Keith Murphy doubled down the left field line. Peter Pena lofted a sacrifice fly for the first run and Campbell singled putting the contest in a 4-4 deadlock.

Parsons set down Ramapo in the top of the ninth giving the Red Hawks a chance to win the game. Kevin Alonso walked with one out and Ryan Long singled. After a strikeout, Matt Long worked out a walk to load the bases. Foote fell behind in the count 1-2 before bouncing a ball in the infield toward shortstop for a hit as Alonso crossed the plate with the winning run.

Parsons (4-3) threw two scoreless innings, striking out two. Connor Lindsay went 6 1/3 innings allowing six hit and four runs (three earned). He struck out four and walked one. Jerry D'Andrea (1-2) took the loss for Ramapo.

Thieme and Foote combined for four of MSU's eight hits in the game.

Earlier in the day, the Red Hawks scored the first six runs before holding on for its second win in three tries as William Paterson this season.  Foote was 4-for-5 at the plate with three RBI.

The Red Hawks plated two runs in the second inning as Scott lined a double to left-centerfield scoring Murphy and Campbell. A four-run fifth broke the game open for the time being. Matt Long delivered the first run with a single and Foote added two more on a triple up the gap in left center. Campbell's fielder's choice brought home the final run giving Montclair State the 6-1 cushion.

William Paterson got two back in the fifth, including a home run by K.C. Abel cutting the deficit to 6-2. Foote got the back for MSU with an RBI double in the sixth however the Pioneers scored once in its half to keep the lead at four runs.

Alonso, who collected two hits, singled through the right side for an 8-3 lead, a run which proved to be big as William Paterson scored three times in the eighth to get within 8-6. Victor Sanchez had the hit and another base hit put the tying runs on base. Parsons came out of the bullpen and got a strikeout and pop up to end the inning.

William Paterson threatened in the ninth with two singles to open the inning and put runners at second and third with a sacrifice. Parsons fanned the next two hitters to finish off his sixth save of the year.

Righthander AUSTIN MINTON (4-3) got the victory as he pitched into the eighth inning. Minton allowed six hits and three runs, struck out four and walked two. Mario Danza (1-2) took the loss for William Paterson (21-20).