Ewing, NJ – Second-ranked Montclair State got another pair of solid pitching performances from seniors Alex Hill (Parsippany, NJ, Parsippany Hills) and Alison Cullen (Branchburg, NJ, Immaculata) as the Red Hawks swept past The College of New Jersey on Saturday afternoon at Dr. June Walker Field.
The Red Hawks, who extended their winning streak to 21 games, improved to 25-1 overall, 10-0 in the NJAC while the Lions fell to 6-20 overall, 0-10 in the conference.
In the opener Hill upped her record to 17-1 with her 11th shutout in 15 starts this season. Hill allowed four hits, struck out 11 and walked one. Alex Carisone (1-6) took the loss despite a solid eight-inning effort. Carison gave up seven hits and two runs, striking out two and walking one.
Montclair State had a chance to take the lead in the third inning as first baseman Tara Petrucelli (Nutley, NJ, Nutley) led off with a double. One out later, Brooke Powers (Newton, NJ, Pope John XXIII) singled to left however a fine defensive play by the Lions cut down Petrucelli at the plate keeping the game scoreless.
It would be TCNJ's turn to threaten in the fifth as the Lions loaded the bases with two outs on a pair of singled and a walk. New Jersey's Kristen Lake (Whitehouse Station, NJ/Hunterdon Central) bounced a slow roller in front of home plate that Hill picked up and flipped home. Nery Cerda (North Bergen, NJ / North Bergen) slid in, but was called out on the force in a close play at the plate.The Red Hawks would finally crack the scoreless tie in the eighth, plating both runs with two outs. Catcher Alisha Cumberton (Toms River, NJ, Toms River East) singled back through the middle scoring pinch-runner Sam Camacho (Jersey City, NJ, County Prep) for the first run. A walk to Dana Amato (Hillsdale, NJ, Pascack Valley) kept the inning going and Hill helped her cause with a base hit giving MSU the 2-0 advantage.
Hill made that hold up in the bottom of the eight setting the Lions down 1-2-3 to end the game.
Powers and Amato had two hits apiece for Montclair State.
It was Cullen's turn in second game as she recorded her first career shutout at MSU scattering seven hits striking out two and walking two in improving to 8-0 on the year.
Montclair did most of its damage in the fourth inning scoring three times. Amato walked and Hill singled. Brianna Davidson (Monroe Township, NJ , Monroe Township) put down a sacrifice bunt that was thrown away allowing Amato to score for a 1-0 MSU lead. Katie Muglia (South Plainfield, NJ, South Plainfield) singled to load the bases and Petrucelli extended the lead to 3-0 with a two-run single.
The Red Hawks added two final runs in the sixth on RBI singles by Petrucelli and Jaclyn Allegretta.
Powers and Petrucelli had two hits each for MSU.
Montclair State is back home at the MSU Softball Stadium on Tuesday, April 15 for an NJAC doubleheader with New Jersey City University beginning at 3:00 pm
