Glassboro, NJ  - The Montclair State softball team dropped their NJAC opener on Sunday as the Red Hawks fell to No. 7 Rowan 12-4 and 13-0. The losses put MSU, which has lost four straight, at 3-7 overall, 0-2 in the NJAC.

In the opener, Morgan Smith and Damariz Mercado each drove in a run in the first inning giving Rowan a 2-0 lead. Montclair would get those runs back in the third plus two more. LAUREN GUILLEN reached on a fielder's choice and BROOKE POWERS singled back through the middle with one out. MELANY ZELLER drew a walk to load the bases and all three runners came around to score as MELISSA RUSTEMEYER blasted a grand slam to centerfield for a 4-2 MSU advantage.

Rowan quickly countered in its half of the third as Alyssa Romero belted a two-run homer tying the game and the Profs took the lead the next inning as Mia Baldassari singled home two runs with Romero added an RBI double for a 7-4 lead for the Profs.

The hosts then tacked on five runs in the fifth with Baldassari plating two runs on a double.

Baldassari, Romero and Shilah Snead each had two hits for the Profs. BRIANNA DAVIDSON and Zeller had two hits apiece for MSU. Powers (2-5) suffered the loss for Montclair State while Beth Ann Hyland (7-0) got the victory.

In the second game, the Profs erupted for seven runs in the bottom of the first inning. Romero delivered the first run with a double and Sierra Machinski singled home a pair of runs.

That would be more than enough for Rowan which got a combined five-hit shutout from Hyland (8-0), Rachel Gagliardo and Ashley Lesch. REBECCA COLEMAN (1-2) suffered the loss for Montclair State.

Montclair State returns to action on Tuesday, March 31 when it hosts NJAC rival William Paterson University at the MSU Softball Stadium beginning at 3:00 pm.