Post-Game Press Conference

Tyler, TX – Sophomore leftfielder Brooke Powers (Newton, NJ, Pope John XXIII) came to Montclair State this season joining a team that had been to the NCAA Division III Softball Championship each of the last two seasons.  On Friday evening at Suddenlink Field, Powers discovered what her teammates had experienced the last two years.

Powers homered and drove in all three runs as Montclair State knocked off Trine University, 3-1 in the final game on Day 1 of the national championship tournament at the University of Texas-Tyler. The victory sends MSU (42-6) into the next round where it faces defending national champion Tufts University at 7:30 pm EDT on Friday, May 23. Trine University will face East Texas Baptist in an elimination game at 1:30 pm on Saturday.

If didn't start out well for Powers, who struck out in each of her first two plate appearances against Thunder starter Bree Fuller (Hubbardstown, MI / Fulton), who kept Montclair State off the scoreboard for the first five innings battling three-time All-American Alex Hill (Parsippany, NJ, Parsippany Hills) to a scoreless contest.

Montclair State got a pair of singles off Fuller in the first inning and added one in the second before Fuller set down 11 straight from the second through fifth innings. Likewise, Hill did the same although it took a fine defensive play by the Red Hawks to keep the game at 0-0.

In the bottom of the fourth, Leah Hall (Indianapolis, IN / Franklin Central) was hit by a pitch with one out. Jamie Scharr (Kettering, OH / Kettering) laced a double down the left field line. Powers picked up the ball and fired a perfect relay throw to third baseman Dana Amato (Hillsdale, NJ, Pascack Valley) who then threw to catcher Alisha Cumberton (Toms River, NJ, Toms River East) nailing Hall at the plate for the second out. Hill ended the inning with one of her five strikeouts.

With a fine defensive play under her belt, Powers then provided the first offensive play of the game in the sixth lining a leadoff home run off Bree over the centerfield fence for a 1-0 MSU lead. Cumberton followed with a double off the wall and went to third on a passed ball. But the Red Hawks couldn't get her home as reliever Justine Robles (Long Beach, CA / Lakewood) got the next two outs before shortstop Haleigh Daniels (Hamilton, OH / Hamilton) made a great play on a ball up the middle, throwing out Hill by a half-step at first base to end the inning.

The play proved important as Kendra Marshall (Leesburg, IN / Warsaw) ripped a solo home run leading off the bottom half of the sixth tying the contest at 1-1.

Montclair State would answer back in the top of the seventh. Melany Zeller drew a walk to open the inning. The Thunder then tried to throw out pinch-runner Sam Camacho (Jersey City, NJ, County Prep) on a sacrifice by Katie Muglia (South Plainfield, NJ, South Plainfield), however Camacho beat the throw putting runners at first and second. The runners moved up on a sacrifice by Brianna Davidson but Robles fanned pinch-hitter Melissa Rustemeyer (Colonia, NJ, Colonia) for the second out. Powers came to the plate and bounced slow roller toward second base which was fielded by Jamie Lydick (Plainfield, IN / Plainfield).

Powers, who finished 2-for-4 hustled down the line and did a head-first slide into the bag beating the throw. Camacho scored on the play and pinch-runner Jeanine Karnilla (Bridgewater, NJ, Bridgewater-Raritan), running all the way, crossed the plate as well giving the Red Hawks a 3-1 advantage.

Hill made that hold up with a perfect seventh inning, including a grounder to first baseman Tara Petrucelli (Nutley, NJ, Nutley) for the final out.

Hill (31-4) earned the win, her 31^st of the season, allowing five hits and a walk in addition to her five punchouts. Robles (13-3) took the loss for Trine.