Montclair, NJ - Righthanders
KIARA RUIZ and
KAYLA VOLANTE combined on a four-hit shutout in the opener while freshman
AMBER POWERS drove in three in the second game as Montclair State swept Hunter College 6-0 and 9-4 at the MSU Softball Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
Sophomore
KAYLEE POWERS had five hits, four runs scored and four stolen bases for the Red Hawks (10-4), who extended their winning streak to four games.
Ruiz (5-1) allowed three hits and struck out two runs in six innings before Volante pitched a scoreless seventh for Montclair State's second straight shutout.
ELENA RADESICH was 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI while
KAYLEE POWERS went 4-for-4 with two runs, three stolen bases and a run batted in.
The Red Hawks scored three times in the bottom of the second.
BLAKE SAPERSTEIN led off the inning with a single and later scored as
KAYLEE POWERS smacked a triple in the left-center gap.
NOEL HODGINS singled back through the middle for the second run with Radesich tacking on the third with an RBI single to center.
MSU added three more in the fourth for a six-run advantage. Radesich drove in
KAYLEE POWERS with a base hit and
VALENTINA CUCCI lofted a sacrifice fly for a 5-0 lead.
VICTORIA GEHRING added an RBI single down the right field line that scored Radesich.
Hodgins also had two hits for MSU, which collected 11 in the contest.
Hunter took a 1-0 lead in the first inning of nightcap however Montclair countered with a run in its half.
AMBER POWERS lined a single that scored sister Kaylee knotting up the score. Montclair State added five runs in the second taking advantage of three Hunter (3-5) errors. Hodgins had an RBI single and
KAYLEE POWERS scored from third on a throwing error during Hodgins' successful steal attempt of second. Cucci plated another run on a misplayed grounder and
AMBER POWERS's RBI double made the score 5-1. Cucci came home with the final run for a 6-3 lead.
Hunter cut the lead to 6-4 in the fourth on a two-run double from Nicole Guzzone however Gehring got one back for MSU with an RBI groundout.
SARAH GUY pushed the lead to 8-3 in the inning. After Hunter scored in the fifth,
AMBER POWERS lifted a sacrifice fly for the final run.
Cucci (2-0) got the victory recording the first 13 outs (4.1 IP).
COURTNEY POLITZ pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief with Ruiz coming on to register the final three outs.
AMBER POWERS was 3-for-4 while Hogins, Cucci and Samantha DiClementi had two hits apiece.
The Red Hawks return to action on Friday, March 30 opening up New Jersey Athletic Conference play. Montclair hosts Rowan at the MSU Softball Stadium with first game of the twinbill beginning at 2:00 pm.
