Clermont, FL – The Montclair State softball team suffered its first two losses of the year as the Red Hawks fell to Marietta College and Simmons University at The Spring Games.

MSU dropped a 1-0 decision to Marietta (6-3) before closing out the week with a 3-1 loss to Simmons (7-2 to finish its trip at 10-2.

Against Marietta, the Montclair bats were held in check by Maddi Liston (3-1), who allowed just one hit in outdueling KIARA RUIZ. Liston struck out three and maneuvered her way around five walks. Ruiz (4-1) surrendered five hits with three strikeouts and four walks.

The Pioneers pushed across the lone run in the bottom of the seventh. Maicy Kirk singled in the infield with two outs. Alyssa Cook stepped to the plate and singled to center field. Kirk went to third on the play and scored the game-winning run as the throw skipped away.

AMBER POWERS had the lone Red Hawk, a two-out single in the third inning.

Simmons' Christie Bott gave the Sharks a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning with an RBI single. Montclair State matched that in the bottom of the inning. Powers led off with a single and went to second and third on a sacrifice and wild pitch, respectively. Sophomore KAYLA GALLO grounded out with Powers scoring on the play, tying the game at 1-1.

The Sharks regained the lead in the third as it put runners at second and third with one out. M Hennessey singled down the left-field line for the go-ahead run with a sac fly by Bott, making the score 3-1. MSU mounted a rally in the bottom of the seventh putting runners on second and third with two outs. But pitcher Maddie Castigliego induced a pop up to end the game.

Senior righthander NICOLE MAJEWSKI (1-1) took the loss allowing three runs and three hits in two innings with a pair of walks. Freshman JILLIAN SIMS tossed five scoreless innings, striking out four. Powers had two of Montclair's five hits in the game.