Montclair, NJ - Senior righthander Alex Hill (Parsippany, NJ, Parsippany Hills) tossed a five-hit shutout and also provided the only scoring of the game with a two-run double as second-seeded and fifth-ranked Montclair State advanced in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Softball Championship with a 2-0 victory over fifth-seeded Richard Stockton at the MSU Softball Stadium on Thursday.

The Red Hawks (35-4) advance to Friday's action which now shifts to Wayne, NJ and William Paterson University. Montclair will face fourth-seeded Kean University at 3:00 pm in the third game of the day at the WPU Softball Field. RIchard Stockton (21-14) faces host WPU at 11:00 am in an elimination game with third-seeded Rowan University battling sixth-seeded Rutgers-Camden at 1:00 pm. Rutgers-Camden upset the host Pioneers 5-4 on Thursday while Kean defeated Rowan, 4-2 back on Tuesday.

Hill collected her 15th shutout in 22 starts this season as she struck out seven in improving to 24-2. Righthander Michelle Pietrocola nearly Hill's equal as she gave up only three hits, striking out eight and working her way around four walks. Pietrocola fell to 12-8.

Scoreless into the bottom of the third, Brooke Powers (Newton, NJ, Pope John XXIII) worked a one-out walk against Pietrocola, who then fanned the next hitter. Senior third baseman Dana Amato (Hillsdale, NJ, Pascack Valley) walked putting runners at first and second and a wild pitch moved each runner up a base. Hill then drove a 2-2 pitch off the wall in left field scoring Powers and Amato for a 2-0 Red Hawks lead.

Hill, who registered her 59 career shutout, kept Stockton off the scoreboard until the Ospreys mounted a rally in the seventh with two outs. Dominique Dorris singled through the left side which was followed by a single up the right field line by Rachel Forte putting runners at second and third. The four-time NJAC Pitcher of the Year got pinch-hitter Holly Arentowicz on a pop up to end the game.