Camden, NJ –
ALEXIS LAW and
AMBER POWERS recorded run-scoring at-bats in the top of the seventh to help the Montclair State softball team split with Rutgers Camden Saturday.
The Red Hawks (4-2, 3-1 NJAC) fell 6-3 in the opener before rebounding with a 4-2 in the nightcap.
Montclair needed just three batters to score the first run of the afternoon. Powers led off with a single and moved up a base on a bunt by
JENNA MELUSO.
KAYLA GALLO came up next doubled to left field, plating Powers. The Scarlet Raptors took the lead in the home half of the first. The first two hitters singled before a bunt moved both up a base. Marissa Beebe delivered a sacrifice fly before Alexis Schauer doubled in the second run of the inning.
ALI CAVALLARO and Sarah Byrnes traded zeroes until the top of the fourth. Gallo led off the frame with a home run to left-center field to pull the Red Hawks even at two. Cavallaro set the Scarlet Raptors down in order in the fourth before Powers, and Gallo recorded doubles in the fifth to push MSU back in front 3-2.
The lead did not last for long, as the Scarlet Raptors loaded bases on two singles and walk. With one out, Rutgers Camden sent Karlie Kennedy up to the plate as a pinch-hitter. Kennedy came through in a big way, delivering a grand slam to left field. Montclair State put runners on second base in both of the final innings but could not scratch a run across, allowing Camden to claim the opener.
Gallo went 3-for-3 with all three RBI, while Powers also collected three hits. Cavallaro allowed six runs (two earned) while fanning seven. Nina Arroyo had four hits in the lead-off spot for the Scarlet Raptors.
The Red Hawks wasted little time getting runs on the board in the nightcap. Powers and
ALYSSA BOROZAN led off the game with consecutive doubles before
KAYLA COSENTINO made it three doubles in four batters, and she laced a one-out two-bagger to right-center. Senior
KAYLA VOLANTE coasted through the first three frames before running into trouble in the fourth. Byrnes and Beebe led off with singles, but Volante bore down and retired the side without allowing a run.
Both teams went scoreless in the fifth before the Scarlet Raiders got even in the sixth. Kennedy singled to load the bases for pinch-hitter Alexis Davis. Davis dropped a single to centerfield to score both runners, but Borozan entered in relief to shut the rally down. Meluso led off the seventh with a single before moving to second on a sacrifice by
CHLOE SAPERSTEIN. Law singled, and on an error, Meluso came around to touch home. After a groundout, Powers stepped to the plate and singled to left field, plating Law. Borozan loaded the bases in the seventh but got Schauer to fly out to center to end game two.
Powers and Cosentino recorded two hits, while Borozan earned her first victory as a Red Hawk in the circle. Byrnes had two hits for Camden while also notching three strikeouts.
The Red Hawks return home tomorrow, as they host Stockton University in a twinbill at 1 pm.
