Montclair, NJ – Junior VALENTINA CUCCI drove home the game-winning run in the top of the ninth inning as Montclair State earned a Game 1 victory and a split of its NJAC doubleheader with Ramapo at the MSU Softball Stadium on Wednesday.

The Red Hawks took the opener, 5-4 before the Roadrunners bounced back with a 13-5 win in the night cap. The split put Montclair at 24-6 on the season, 5-3 in conference play while Ramapo is now 14-10 overall, 5-3 in the league.

In the opener, Montclair took a 1-0 lead in the second as BLAKE SAPERSTEIN scored on an error. The Roadrunners matched that in their half on an RBI single by Kristen Ruggiero. Saperstein came through with a single scoring AMBER POWERS as MSU moved back in front 2-1 in the third however Ramapo countered with a run in its half as Harper Patsko doubled to left bringing home Olivia Wang.

Krista Verrino gave Ramapo the lead in the fourth with a double and Ruggiero's double in the fifth put the Roadrunners in front 4-2. Montclair State rallied in the seventh. Pinch-hitter LIA STAMILE walked and Powers singled back through the middle. A sacrifice moved the runners up a base but pitcher Erin Fitzsimmons got a pop up for the second out.

Saperstein singled through the right side cutting the deficit to 4-3. Samantha DiClementi then sent a shallow fly ball to left. Ruggiero dove and nearly came up with a game-ending catch. But the home plate umpire ruled that Ruggiero trapped the ball. Powers came home knotting the game at 4-4.

Both teams missed opportunities to score in the eighth with the tie-breaker rule in effect. In the ninth, Powers advanced to third on a sacrifice and scored as Cucci singled through the left side giving MSU a 5-4 lead. Ramapo got the tying run to third with one out in the bottom of the inning however that runner would be stranded there as reliever NICOLE MAJEWSKI got a pair of fly balls to end the game.

Majewski (7-1) got the victory as she logged the final 5 2/3 innings allowing three hits and a run, striking out four and walking two. Fitzsimmons (7-7) took the loss. Saperstein and Powers finished with three and two hits respectively for the Red Hawks.

Saperstein gave MSU a 1-0 lead in the first inning of the nightcap but Ramapo responded with five runs in its first turn at bat. Kendra Decker provided the big blow with a three-run homer. Ramapo tacked on four more in the second before MSU tallied twice in the third. AMBER POWERS scored on a wild pitch and Saperstein delivered an RBI single making the score 9-3.

Ramapo put the game away in the third scoring four times. KAYLEE POWERS and Cucci had RBIs in the fourth for Montclair.

Jessica Becchetti (6-2) got the victory as she pitched the first four innings. KIARA RUIZ (6-3) took the loss for MSU. Saperstein and TAYLOR BROWN had two hits apiece for the Red Hawks.

Montclair State returns to action on Saturday, April 13 as it hosts The College of New Jersey at 1:00 pm. It will be Senior Day as the Red Hawks will honor their four – KAYLEE POWERS, DiClementi, Stamile and ALI WALEK prior to the start of the opener.