Bronx, NY – Senior catcher
MELANY ZELLER went 3-for-4 and drove in four runs as Montclair State took the opening game however New York University scored the final six runs in the nightcap as the Red Hawks and Violets split a doubleheader at Fordham University on Wednesday.
Junior righthander
BROOKE POWERS tossed her second shutout of the season as MSU (6-14) took the first game 11-0 to snap a six-game losing streak before NYU rebounded with a 9-5 win in the second contest.
Powers (4-9) allowed seven hits, walked three and struck out one in the Game 1 victory.
MELISSA RUSTEMEYER drove in three runs while
BRIANNA DAVIDSON added two RBI.
MSU grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
NOEL HODGINS reached with one out and moved to second on a passed ball before scoring on Zeller's two-out, run-scoring single through the right side. Zeller would be the catalyst of a three-run third, driving in two more runs with a base hit to right field. Davidson added an RBI double as Montclair widened its lead to 4-0.
The Red Hawks expanded the lead to 8-0 in the fourth scoring four times.
LAUREN GUILLEN doubled to open the inning and scored on an error. Davidson doubled down the left field line to drive in another run which was followed by RBI singles from Rustemeyer and
TINA CIACCIARELLI.
Three more runs would come in the fifth for the final margin. Zeller drove in her fourth run with a single through the middle of the infield with Rustemeyer delivering the final two runs with a base hit.
In the second game, the Red Hawks scored twice in the top of the first to take an early lead. Zeller continued her hot hitting with her fifth RBI of the twinbill with Rustemeyer added in a run-scoring double.
The Violets (5-17) answered with a run in its half of the first and plated a run in the second and the third to take a 5-3 advantage. Montclair State regained the lead in the fifth with three runs. Freshman
ALANA LUNA put MSU in front 4-3 with a two-run single and
JENNA MANCINI added an RBI as Montclair led by two.
However, NYU matched the three runs and added one more to go back on top 7-5 before tacking on two runs in the sixth for the final score.
Montclair State returns to action on Thursday, April 9 as it hosts DeSales University at the MSU Softball Stadium. First pitch of the doubleheader is at 3:00 pm.