Montclair, NJ - Sophomore TINA CIACCIARELLI and freshman ALI WALEK each drove in five runs on the day while freshman Samantha DiClementi collected four RBI as Montclair State picked up its first two NJAC victories of the season in a doubleheader sweep of New Jersey City University at the MSU Softball Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. The Red Hawks pounded out 29 hits in recording 14-0 and 12-8 victories.

Sophomore second baseman NOEL HODGINS went 6-for-7 and scored four runs for the Red Hawks, who battled back from an early six-run deficit in the nightcap. The wins snapped MSU's six game losing streak at it improved to 16-10 overall, 2-6 in the NJAC. Sophomore righthander SAM KEATING earned both pitching victorie.

Keating allowed just two hits, a leadoff single to Hannah Gavin in the first and a one-out base hit to Brittany Paulikas in the fourth as she upped her record to 6-4. The righthander struck out four in recording her second shutout of the season.

The Red Hawks errupted for six run in the bottom of the first sending 12 batters to the plate. BROOKE POWERS brought home the first run with a misplayed grounder, one of six errors by the Gothic Knights (11-13, 0-8 NJAC). Hodgins also scored on the play for a 2-0 lead. Walek singled back throught the middle for the third run and a two-run single by Ciacciarelli extended the lead to 5-0. DiClementi accounted for the final run with an infield single that scored Walek.

Montclair increased the lead to seven runs in the second on a Walek RBI single and exploded for seven runs in the third. LIA STAMILE plated the first run with a single that scored two more when the ball skipped past the fielder to the wall. Ciacciraelli cleared the bases with a double later in the inning before VICTORIA GEHRING delivered the last run with an RBI single.

Gehring was 3-for-3 with Ciacciarelli going 3-for-4. Hodgins, Walek and DiClementi had two hits apiece for the Red Hawks, who pounded out 15 in the game.

The nightcap appeared as though the tables would be turned with NJCU scoring the first six runs of the game. Hannah Gavin had an RBI double in the first and added a two-run single in the third giving the Gothic Knights a 4-0 advantage. Juliana Squeo tripled in two more in the third making the score 6-0 in favor of New Jersey City.

But Montclair battled back with six runs in the bottom of the third which was helped out by two NJCU miscues. DiClementi led off with a double and scored one batter later on error for the first run.. Hodgins followed with an RBI triple and a sacrifice fly from Powers made the score 6-3. New Jersey City would get the next out however LAUREN BOOTH kept the inning going with a double and ALANA LUNA walked. Walek lined a shot up the right-center gap for a two-run triple and them scampered home with the tying run on the second error of the inning.

MSU would take the lead in the fourth with two runs. Hodgins singled with two outs and stole second. Powers then line a single to center putting the Red Hawks in front. The RBI was the 100th of Powers'  careers. Stamile then sliced a double to left center as Montclair State led 8-6.

DiClementi added a sacrifice fly in the fifth for a three-run lead and Montclair added three more in the sixth inning. Walek drove in the first with a single and DiClementi had a two-run double for a 12-6 lead. Jazz Randall stopped the run of 12 consecutive runs by Montclair with a two-run double in the seventh.

Keating (7-4) pitched five innings in relief to earn her second win of the day. She struck out three and walked three. Christina Mezey (5-7) took the loss as only four of the 12 runs she allowed were earned.

Montclair State had 14 hits in the second contest, including a 4-for-4 performance by Hodgins. Luna, Walek and DiClementi had two hits each.

The Red Hawks are back in action on Saturday, April 16 with a road NJAC contest at Rutgers-Camden beginning at 12:00 pm. MSU returns home on Sunday, April 17 to host College of Staten Island also at 1:00 pm.