Montclair, NJ – Sophomore COURTNEY POLITZ tossed a four-hit shutout in the opener and classmate VALENTINA CUCCI blasted a three-run homer in the nightcap as Montclair State swept its non-conference doubleheader with Centenary University on Wednesday afternoon.

Junior VICTORIA GEHRING and sophomore ELENA RADESICH each had three RBI on the day as the Red Hawks (19-9) posted 3-0 and 10-2 victories.

Politz (1-1) picked up her first victory of the season as she struck out three and faced just four batters over the minimum retiring 15 of the final 16 hitters she faced including the final 10. Sammie Darling (7-12) took the loss for the Cyclones (8-16).

MSU got the only run it needed in the bottom of the first inning. KAYLEE POWERS singled down the left field line to open the inning and stole second. After moving to third on a sacrifice, Radesich lofted a ball to right field for a sacrifice fly scoring Powers with the first run.

Montclair added to the lead in the fourth as catcher ALANA LUNA doubled up the gap in left center scoring AMBER POWERS for a 2-0 lead. Powers also got the last RBI in the fifth with an infield single that scored Gehring who was hit by a pitch to open the inning, stole second and got to third on a ground out.
KAYLEE POWERS had two hits for MSU.

In the second game, the Centenary jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first as Jessica Hewitt collected an RBI single and scored as Justine Stefura doubled to deep center field. Montclair would get those runs back plus one more in the bottom of the inning as Cucci blasted 3-2 pitch over the left field fence giving the Red Hawks a 3-2 advantage. Luna would make it four-run inning with a double down the left field line.

Gehring plated two runs in the second with a single and AMBER POWERS added another with a base hit extending MSU's lead to 7-2. Radesich brought home two with a bases-loaded single in the third and Gehring got the final run home in the fifth with a double scoring KAYLEE POWERS.

Righthander NICOLE MAJEWSKI picked up the victory to improve to 8-1 on the year. Majewski allowed five hits and two runs (one earned) with a strikeout. Cucci finished off the game with two scoreless innings. Gehring was 3-for-3 at the plate with Kaylee and AMBER POWERS and Radesich each registering two hits.

Montclair State is back in action on Friday, April 20 hosting New Jersey City University in a makeup of its Tuesday rainout. The Red Hawks and Gothic Knights square off at the MSU Softball Stadium beginning at 3:00 pm.