Montclair, NJ – The Montclair State softball season came to a close on Saturday as the Red Hawks were swept by Kean University at the MSU Softball Stadium.
The Red Hawks, who finished the year at 20-18 (4-14 NJAC), dropped the first contest 9-1 before suffering a 1-0 setback in the final contest of the year.
In the opener, Kean struck for a pair of runs in the top of the first inning however that was answered by MSU in the bottom of the inning. 
VICTORIA GEHRING drew a leadoff walk and went to second on an infield single by 
NOEL HODGINS. 
BROOKE POWERS followed with a base hit to left field ,driving in Gehring to make the score 2-1.
Kean widened the lead in the top of the third. Mackenzie Valeriani doubled home a run before Dana Knapp blasted a three-run homer for a 6-1 advantage.  The Cougars (20-20, 9-9 NJAC) tacked on a run in the fifth and two more in the sixth for the final margin.
Kiele Eichlin picked up the victory allowing seven hits. She struck out four and walked one. 
LAUREN BOOTH took the loss for the Red Hawks. Samantha Krakower and Powers each posted multiple-hit games.
In the nightcap, Shannon McMahon (11-7) outdueled Powers (8-8) in the 1-0 victory. McMahon tossed a four-hit shutout striking out three. Powers gave up five hits, fanning three and walking one.
Scoreless through the first five innings, Kean broke through in the sixth. Tonianne DeMatteo singled to open the inning and Olivia Zengel followed with an infield hit. Emily Sabo's bunt hit loaded the bases. Powers fanned the next hitter, but a passed ball allowed DeMatteo to come home with what turned out to be the game-winning run.
Montclair State had chance in the seventh as 
ALANA LUNA led off with a single. However a double-play quickly erased that and it proved to more important as Booth dropped a single into center with two outs. McMahon struck out the next batter to end the game.
Powers finished with two hits for Montclair State as she closed out her outstanding career for the Red Hawks. The outfielder/pitcher finished with 148 hits and 109 RBI while collecting 14 homers, 27 doubles and 99 runs scored finishing in the Top 20 all-time at MSU in each category including eighth in home runs and runs batted in.