Wayne, NJ – The road to a potential second straight New Jersey Athletic Conference championship for the Montclair State softball team got a little more difficult on Friday as the fifth-ranked and second-seeded Red Hawks fell to 24^th-ranked and fourth-seeded Kean University, 3-2 at William Paterson's Pioneer Softball Field.

The loss put the Red Hawks (35-5) into an elimination game on Saturday, May against sixth-seeded Rutgers-Camden at 10:00 am. Should Montclair stay alive, the Red Hawks would have to play again at 2:00 pm against the Kean. Top-seeded William Paterson, which ousted fifth-seeded Richard Stockton on Friday, and third-seeded Rowan, which defeated Rutgers-Camden, will meet at Noon.

Meeting for the third time this season, MSU and Kean put together another close affair as NJAC Pitcher of the Year Alex Hill and Cougar righthander Courtney Yard matched up again after the two battled against one another in a 2-1, nine-inning win by Kean at the MSU Softball Stadium on April 19. This one wouldn't need the extra innings however it was Yard coming out on top again as she allowed three hits, struck out four and gave up one earned run in improving to 19-6. Hill (24-3) surrendered eight hits, fanned 13 and walked two.

Montclair State got on the board quickly in the top of the first inning. Leftfielder Brooke Powers (Newton, NJ, Pope John XXIII) singled through the right side and an error allowed her to scamper to third. Catcher Alisha Cumberton (Toms River, NJ, Toms River East) followed with a sacrifice fly as MSU got on the board 1-0.

Kean would get a run back in the top of the fourth to tie the game. Sandra Binkiewicz led off with a single and Yard walked. Two batters later, Tiffany Varriello, who drove in all three runs, singled to center scoring Yard tying up the contest. The Red Hawks had a chance to extend its lead in the fifth putting runners at second and third with two out however Yard struck out the next hitter and got a ground out to end the inning as the contest remained deadlocked.

The Cougars took the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Yard walked and Kelly Moorehead followed with a double. Varriello doubled to right center brining both home giving Kean a 3-1 lead.

Montclair State threatened in the seventh. Junior Tara Petrucelli (Nutley, NJ, Nutley) led off with a single and a pair of wild pitches moved pinch runner Jeanine Karnilla (Bridgewater, NJ, Bridgewater-Raritan) to third base. Senior second baseman Katie Muglia (South Plainfield, NJ, South Plainfield) lofted a sacrifice fly bringing MSU within 3-2 but Yard retired the next two hitters to end the game.

Binkiewicz, Moorehead and Varriello accounted for six of the eight Kean hits in the game.