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Post-Game Press Conference
Salem, VA – The Montclair State softball team suffered its first loss in the NCAA Division III Championship on Sunday as the Red Hawks fell to Pacific Lutheran University, 2-1 in 12 innings.
Montclair (44-8) will face Linfield College at 11:00 am on Monday, May 21 in an elimination contest. The winner will then face Pacific Lutheran and will need to defeat the Lutes (44-11) twice to claim the national championship.
Sophomore third baseman
Dana Amato (Hillsdale, NJ, Pascack Valley) blasted a solo home run to account for the lone Red Hawks. Trailing 1-0 in the top of the fourth, Amato launched her 10th home run of the season off Stacey Hagensen knotting the game.
But that would be the only damage MSU would do against the All-American righthander as she limited Montclair to just four hits – two by Amato – while striking out eight in the complete-game victory.
Sophomore righty
Alex Hill (Parsippany, NJ, Parsippany Hills) took the loss despite a lengthy effort as she struck out eight and walked a season-high four batters. Hill fell to 32-5 on the year.
Pacific Lutheran scored the game's first run in the bottom of the third inning when Lindsey Matsunaga drew a leadoff walk, moved up a base on Haley Harshaw's sacrifice bunt, and then scored on a single by Montessa Califano past diving shortstop
Priscilla Camacho (Jersey City, NJ, County Prep).
After Amato's home run tied the game, Hill thwarted many of the Lutes opportunities as she stranded 11 runners on base, including eight in scoring position.
The bottom of the 12th inning started with Califano getting her third hit of the game by beating out an infield single to second base. She then stole second base, her fourth steal of the game, and advanced to third base when Glenelle Nitta's sacrifice bunt was thrown low to first base. Hagensen, who had two hits, was walked intentionally to load the bases with no outs.
Hill struck out pinch hitter Ami Gran, bringing Amanda Hall to the plate, who then drove a one-out single through the middle of the diamond to give Pacific Lutheran the victory.
