Montclair, NJ – It was nearly a perfect day for the Montclair State softball team.

Red Hawk pitchers VALENTINA CUCCI and KIARA RUIZ allowed just two baserunners with the latter tossing a no-hitter as MSU powered past New Jersey City University 13-0 and 19-0 at the MSU Softball Stadium on Tuesday.

Cucci registered a one-hit shutout and drove in seven runs on the day as the Red Hawks (26-8, 7-5 NJAC) gave head coach Anita Kubicka her 899^th and 900th career victories. LIA STAMILE and AMBER POWERS each collected five RBI while BLAKE SAPERSTEIN went 6-for-8 with a homer on the day for Montclair. The Red Hawks pounded out 33 hits, including 12 extra-base hits.

As explosive as the Montclair State bats were, the pitching was perhaps even more dominant starting with the opener where Cucci upped her record to 8-2 with her third shutout of the year. The righthander struck out five and did not walk a batter. The only blemish on her day came in the bottom of the first inning as Dulce Almonte doubled to left field with one out. Cucci retired the final 14 batters to complete the outstanding effort.

Montclair gave Cucci all the support she needed in the first as Saperstein singled home the first run with Stamile adding a two-run double for a 3-0 lead. Cucci helped her own caused driving in two in the second before the Red Hawks erupted for eight runs in the fifth. Cucci smacked a two-run single giving her four RBI in the game. Saperstein followed with a two-run homer for the final Red Hawk runs.

Stamile was 3-for-3 with Saperstein going 3-for-4 at the plate.

As good as Cucci was the in the first game, Ruiz was one better in the second contest recording her first career no-hitter. Ruiz (7-3) retired 15 of the 16 batters she faced and allowed just one walk while fanning five.

Cucci delivered a two-run single in the first as Montclair State scored four times before exploding for nine runs in the second. Powers was 2-for-2 in the inning with a pair of triples and three RBI as the Red Hawks sent 14 batters to the plate. ALEXA PENNA brought home two runs with a double with KAYLEE POWERS driving in two during the inning as MSU led 13-0.

AMBER POWERS finished 4-for-4 with three runs scored and four RBI while KAYLEE POWERS also drove in four during a 3-for-4 performance. Cucci (3 RBI) and Saperstein also had three hits apiece for MSU, which had 21 in the contest. Penna and TAYLOR BROWN combined for four hits and six runs scored.

The Red Hawks are back in action on Saturday, April 20 when it travels to Union, NJ to face No. 23 Kean University in an NJAC matchup at 1:00 pm.