Clermont, FL – The Montclair State softball team continued its torrid start to the season Thursday at The Spring Games.
The Red Hawks ran their record to 10-0 after knocking off Lakeland 12-3 before posting a 7-1 win against Emmanuel. The start is the best by MSU since capturing its first 31 contests during the 2013 campaign.
Sophomore ALEXIS LAW went 2-for-3 with four RBI while sophomore first baseman KAYLA GALLO (2-for-4) homered and drove in three runs. Freshman JENNA MELUSO was a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs batted in. Freshman righthander JILLIAN SIMS improved to 3-0 as she went the distance striking out six.
Gallo gave the Red Hawks a 1-0 lead in the first inning with a double. However, the Muskies answered with three runs to take the lead. Montclair countered with nine runs in its half of the inning. Law started the rally with a two-run triple and also scored on the play via an error putting MSU on top 4-3. Gallo blasted a two-run homer with VALENTINA CUCCI and Meluso, each recording RBI doubles extending the lead to 8-3. Law capped the rally on a two-run single, giving her four runs batted in during the inning.
Montclair finished its scoring in the third with two runs. Meluso singled in the first scoring BLAKE SAPERSTEIN with ALEXA PENNA driving in the final run.
Senior righthander KIARA RUIZ struck out right batters over the first innings as MSU banged out 12 hits against Emmanuel. Ruiz allowed four hits and a run before KAYLA VOLANTE finished up with a scoreless seventh inning. Gallo was 2-for-4 with two RBI with ELENA RADESICH driving in a pair of runs. AMBER POWERS was 2-for-3 with three runs scored.
Gallo put Montclair in front 1-0 in the first with an RBI ground out, and a Radesich RBI on a fielder's choice in the second gave MSU a two-run lead. The Red Hawks tacked on two more in the fifth as Cucci and Reed each drove in a run. Saperstein doubled home a run in the sixth before Radesich singled in another, making the score 7-0.
Montclair State wraps up its Florida trip on Friday, March 13, with its final two contests. The Red Hawks take on Marietta at 1:30 pm, followed by a 4:00 pm match up with Simmons University.
