Montclair, NJ … The College of New Jersey baseball team continues to dominate its New Jersey Athletic Conference opponents as they swept Montclair State University on Saturday afternoon inn Yogi Berra Stadium.

The Lions have won nine of 10 conference games this season and are surging towards an early post-season berth. TCNJ won the opener 9-3 and came back to win the back-end game ---. Junior Joe Cirillo (Fairfield, NJ/DePaul Catholic) produced another masterful performance, throwing his third consecutive complete game. Sophomore Michael Fischer (Robbinsville, NJ/Robbinsville) collected this fifth win of the season in the nightcap to complete the sweep.

Junior Zachary Shindler (Wantagh, NU/Wantagh) had a big day at the plate, going 5-for-9 with seven runs batted in. Shindler currently has 99 career hits and will look to reach the 100-hit milestone this Tuesday at FDU-Florham.

Game 1: TCNJ 9  Montclair State 3

Cirillo gave up three runs in the third inning and that was it for the day. He worked all nine innings for his third straight conference win. Cirillo scattered six hits and struck out seven, while walking two. In his last three starts, Cirillo has allowed just four runs (two earned) in 27 innings, struck out 27 and walked three.

Shindler carried the offense with a pair of doubles and six runs batted in. CJ Gearhart (Robbinsville, NJ/Robbinsville) also drove in a pair with two hits and Mike Follet (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) went 3-for-4 with a run scored.

The Lions took a 2-0 lead in the third when Shindler lined his first double of the day to right-center to score Danny Borup (Plainsboro, NJ/West Windsor South) and Ben Varone (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee).

Cirillo ran his scoreless string of innings to 21 innings, facing just 16 Red Hawk batters through the first five innings. MSU broke through in the sixth to take a 3-2 lead.

TCNJ wasted no time regaining command of the contest. Follet tripled to right field to open the seventh. The Lions loaded the bases and Varone delivered an RBI-fielder's choice to tie the game. Borup was hit by a pitch to re-soak the bases and Shindler produced the biggest blow of the afternoon, a bases-clearing double to put the Lioins up 6-3.

Up by three entering the ninth, TCNJ doubled its lead with three more runs. A two-run single by Gearhart highlighted the inning and Cirillo returned to the hill to record the final three outs to move to 3-0 on the season.

Game 2: TCNJ 10  Montclair State 4

The Lions picked up where they left off in the nightcap. Persichetti doubled to lead off the game. He moved to third on a fly ball to right and jogged home when Shindler singled to center.

A seven-run third inning deflated the Red Hawks' hope of gaining a split. Patrick Anderson led off with a double down the left-field line and advanced to third when Shindler singled to left. A walk to Gearhart loaded the bases and Lindsay singled to make it a 2-0 game. Shindler scored on a Follet sacrifice fly in foul territory and the Lions then took advantage of some shaky Montclair defense. Two runs crossed home plate when Tommy McCarthy (Allentown, NJ/Allentown) reached on an error by the first baseman and two more scored when Ben Varone (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) reached safely on a miscue by the left fielder. Varone raced home on a wild pitch and TCNJ led 8-0 in the second.

Fischer cruised through the first five innings. He allowed just four baserunners, none of whom passed second base. Gearhart made it 9-0 when he homered to left-center in the sixth, his first of the season.

The Red Hawks finally got on the board with a run in the sixth and they rallied for three more in the eighth. Fischer struck out the final batter he faced to finish with eight K's to improve to 5-1.

TCNJ tacked on a 10th run in the ninth on a sacrifice fly by Persichetti. Zac deRocco (Red Bank, NJ/Middletown South) came on to pitch a scoreless ninth to secure the win and sweep.

Shindler and Lindsay finished with three hits and Persichetti and Gearhart each collected two.

The Lions will take on the Devils on Tuesday afternoon in Madison, NJ. They return home on Friday when they host Rowan University in George Ackerman Park at 3:30 p.m