Montclair, NJ - Senior first baseman KAYLA GALLO homered and finished with five RBI while right-hander KAYLA VOLANTE tossed a two-hit shutout as Montclair State swept past New Jersey City University, 9-1 and 8-0 at the MSU Softball Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.

Freshman KAYLA COSENTINO went 5-for-5 with a pair of RBI in the twinbill as the Red Hawks upped their record to 9-5 overall, 8-4 in NJAC play. MSU improved to 44-2 all-time against the Gothic Knights (0-12, 0-12 NJAC), stretching its winning streak to 22 games while posting a shutout win for the fourth time in the last five meetings.

NJCU grabbed a 1-0 lead two batters into the first game as Dulce Almonte launched a solo homer over the left field fence. Montclair immediately answered that and more with four runs in its half. Gallo plated two with a double giving MSU the lead and ALYSSA BOROZAN followed with a base hit back through the middle for a 3-1 lead. CHLOE SAPERSTEIN singled in the infield scoring Borozan for the final run of the inning.

Gallo added to the lead in the second with a two-run homer, her third of the year, making the score 6-1. AMBER POWERS singled in a run in the third with MSU adding two runs in the fourth to round out its run total. Gallo scored on an error while ALEXIS LAW had an RBI on a fielder's choice.

Right-hander ALI CAVALLARO scattered seven hits, struck out one and walked one as she improved to 6-2. Sidnie Dabbadie (0-4) took the loss for NJCU. Cosentino went 3-for-3 for MSU with Gallo and Powers each collecting two hits.

Volante registered the first shutout of her career as she evened her record at 2-2 in the nightcap. She struck out one and faced three batters over the minimum. Emily Tunney (0-6) suffered the loss for the Gothic Knights.

Montclair State would get all the runs they needed in the bottom of the first as Cosentino singled with one out and Gallo followed with a double. AMBER REED drove in the first run with a ground out and JENNA MELUSO made it a 2-0 contest with a single to left field.

Gallo's RBI ground out in the second pushed the lead to 3-0 and the Red Hawks widened that to 7-0 in the third with four runs. ALEXIS LAW drove in a run with a base hit and Powers walked with the bases-loaded forcing in another run. Saperstein scampered on a wild pitch giving MSU a 6-0 advantage before Cosentino lofted a sacrifice fly for the final run.
Cosentino capped off her perfect day at the plate with an RBI single in the fifth for the last Red Hawk run.

Meluso was 2-for-3.