Fort Myers, FL – The Montclair State softball closed out its appearance at the Gene Cusic Classic with a pair of one-run losses on Thursday. The Red Hawks (3-5) fell to Curry College, 1-0 before ending its trip with an 8-7 loss to Dominican College (IL).

Against Curry, the Red Hawks were handcuffed by pitcher Taylor Ahearn (2-1), who allowed just four hits while striking out five. Ahearn got 12 ground ball outs and allowed just two runners to reach third base in the contest.

The only run in the game would come in the fourth inning. Bruno singled with one out and went to second on an error. Carver followed with a double to left field scoring Bruno.

Montclair State would get its chances. Freshman TINA CIACCIARELLI led off the third with a single and got to third on a pair of sacrifices however she would remain there as Ahearn got BROOKE POWERS to line out to shortstop to end the inning. In the sixth, NOEL HODGINS collected a one-out single and got to third as Powers singled into left field. But Ahearn came up with key pitches getting a ground out and pop up to end the threat.

The Red Hawks got one last chance in the seventh when MELISSA RUSTEMEYER singled to open the inning. Pinch-runner SCHYLER EDWARDS advanced to second on a sacrifice but that would be as far as she would get as Ahearn fanned the next two batters to end the game.

Powers (2-3) took the hard-luck loss as she allowed six hits and the one run. She struck out two and walked two.

Montclair would jump out to a 1-0 lead against Dominican as ALANA LUNA singled home Powers. But the Stars answered with a six-run bottom of the inning. Powers got a run back in the top of the second on an RBI single however Dominican countered that with a run in its half of the inning and added another in the fourth for an 8-2 advantage.

MSU cut into that lead with three runs in the fifth. AMANDA SCHRODER delivered the first on a fielder's choice and Hodgins' infield single scored another before Powers' walk with the bases loaded pulled MSU within 8-5.

Montclair pulled even closer in the sixth inning as RACHEL LYNCH registered a two-run pinch-hit single making the score 8-7 and the Red Hawks had a chance to draw even in its last at bat as BRIANNA DAVIDSON led off with a single. But a double play erased that threat which proved even more costly as Rustemeyer followed with a double putting the tying run on second. Pitcher Hayley Locher then struck out the next batter to end the game.

Davidson and COURTNEY SIERRO had two hits apiece for the Red Hawks.

Montclair State heads back north and is next scheduled to play its home opener on Thursday, March 19 against DeSales University at 3:00 pm.