Post-Game Press Conference - Montclair State | Central
NCAA Division III Softball Championship Website
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Eau Claire, WI - Junior righthander Alex Hill (Parsippany, NJ, Parsippany Hills)did it with her bat and her arm on Friday evening, leading Montclair State to a 4-1 victory over Central College (IA) in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Softball Championship at Carson Park on Friday evening.

Hill tossed a three-hitter and provided offense with a three-run homer and all four RBI as the Red Hawks (46-3) now advance to next round where they will face Tufts University on Saturday, May 18 at 7:30 pm EST.

Hill, who was named First-Team All-America on Thursday evening, improved to 38-3 on the season as she struck out eight and did not walk a batter. Mallory Schulenberg (16-3) took the loss allowing the three-run homer to her counterpart.

The Dutch (32-9) put a runner aboard in the first inning as Emily Te Brink struck out and reached on a passed ball. Te Brink would steal second with one out however the Red Hawks would get out of the inning a Hill fanned the next batter with catcher Alisha Cumberton (Toms River, NJ, Toms River East) gunning down Te Brink trying to steal third to end the inning.

After threatening in the second, Montclair would break through in the bottom of third. Katie Muglia (South Plainfield, NJ, South Plainfield) began the rally with a one-out single down the right field line. Jamie Paulino (Linden, NJ, Linden) sacrificed the runner over and Central elected to intentionally walk Dana Amato (Hillsdale, NJ, Pascack Valley) putting runners at first and second. The move backfired on the Dutch as Hill drove a 2-1 pitch down the left field over for her second home of the year as Montclair State took a 3-0 lead.

Central would get a run back as they opened the top of the fourth with back to back singles. Hill got a pop up for the first out, however an error allowed a run to score cutting the lead to 3-1. With the tying runs at second and third, Hill fanned the next hitter and got a pop up to end the threat as MSU maintained a two-run lead.

It would be the start of 10 in row retired by Hill, who added to the lead in the bottom of the fifth driving in Paulino with a fielder's choice.

Hill would give up a single with two out in the top of the seventh but struck out the final hitter to send MSU on to the next round.

Muglia finished 2-for-4 at the plate.
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