Montclair, NJ – Junior
BROOKE POWERS tossed a complete game in the opener and also drove in two runs as did
MELANY ZELLER as Montclair State earned a split of its NJAC doubleheader with Rutgers-Camden at the MSU Softball Stadium on Saturday.
Sophomore centerfielder
LAUREN GUILLEN had four hits in including a home run as MSU (7-15, 1-7 NJAC) collected its first conference win of the season with a 6-2 victory. Devon Welsh drove in three runs in the second game as the Scarlet Raptors (16-6-1, 7-3 NJAC) posted an 11-2 win in the second contest.
Kate Larson doubled in a run in the top of the first to give Rutgers-Camden a 1-0 lead but Powers helped her own cause in the bottom of the inning with a two-run single putting MSU in front. The Scarlet Raptors tied the game in the fourth but again MSU answered in its half as Zeller singled to center scoring two for a 4-2 Red Hawk lead.
MSU added two more runs in the sixth. Guillen, who was 3-for-3, scored on an illegal pitch and
BRIANNA DAVIDSON collected an RBI double.
Powers (5-10) got the win as she struck out three and walked two while allowed two runs and seven hits.
NOEL HODGINS and Davidson had two hit apiece to pace an 11-hit Montclair attack.
In the second game, Rutgers-Camden took a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI by Larson however Montclair countered with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Guillen led off with an opposite-field homer over the left field fence and
BRIANNA DAVIDSON plated a run on a fielder's choice giving the Red Hawks a 2-1 advantage.
The Scarlet Raptors tied the game in the second and a two-run error in the fourth gave Rutgers-Camden the lead at 4-2. Welsh extended the lead to 6-2 in the fifth with single before the Raptors blew the game open with a five-run sixth inning.
Brittany Scott (13-5) got the win for Rutgers-Camden as she allowed two runs and three hits, striking out five and walking one. Powers took the loss for the Red Hawks. Larson went 4-for-4 with a pair of RBI for Rutgers-Camden.
Montclair State has a quick turnaround as it will face New Jersey City University at the Gerrity Complex on Sunday, April 12 at 1:00 pm. The game is a makeup from Tuesday's postponement.
