Union, NJ – A pair of big run-scoring innings, including one late in the nightcap helped propel No. 19 Kean University to a sweep of Montclair State on Saturday afternoon. The Cougars (30-5, 10-4 NJAC) posted victories of 9-6 and 10-7.

Junior leftfielder BLAKE SAPERSTEIN homered and drove in four runs for Montclair State. ELENA RADESICH and TAYLOR BROWN also belted home runs for the Red Hawks (26-10, 7-7 NJAC).

In the opener, Kean scored a pair of runs in the first inning and exploded for seven in the fourth building a 9-0 advantage. Olivia Zengel highlighted the inning with a two-run double. Montclair State battled back with five runs in the fifth innings. AMBER POWERS had an RBI double with an error allowing two more runs to score. VALENTINA CUCCI and Saperstein smacked RBI singled as the Red Hawks crept within 9-5.

Radesich got the final MSU run in the sixth with a solo home run.

Jackie Riley (13-1) got the victory as she pitched into the sixth inning. Taryn DiGiacomo registered the final six outs for her first save of the season. Cucci (8-3) took the loss for MSU. Brown had two hits.
Saperstein put MSU in front 1-0 in the first inning of the second contest collecting an RBI single. The Cougars answered with two runs in its half and moved in front 5-1 in the second after Caroline Ratti blasted a two-run homer. Montclair cut the deficit to two in the fourth as Saperstein homered and Samantha DiClementi scored on a wild pitch.

Kean tacked on a run in the fourth however Montclair scored four times in the fifth to take the lead. Brown flicked an opposite field home run for the first run. Saperstein drove in another with and error allowing two more to score as the Red Hawks knotted the game at 6-6. Radesich singled back through the middle for the go-ahead run.

The Cougars came right back with four runs in the bottom of the sixth. Zengel had a sacrifice fly with Raba sending Kean into the lead with a two-run double. Erin Hollyfield delivered the final run with a single.

Kaitlin Stahlbrand (3-1) picked up the win in relief as she went the final 2 2/3 innings allowing a hit with one strikeout. NICOLE MAJEWSKI (7-3) suffered the loss for MSU. Saperstein was 4-for-4 with KAYLEE POWERS recording a pair of hits.

Montclair State is in action on Tuesday, April 23 with its final home game of the season. The Red Hawks host local rival William Paterson at the MSU Softball Stadium with first pitch set for 3:00 pm.