Montclair, NJ – They say that softball is ultimately decided by good pitching and timely hitting. Montclair State got both on Saturdays as the Red Hawks swept past Kean University, 1-0 and 5-0 at the MSU Softball Stadium.

Right-handers ALI CAVALLARO and KAYLA VOLANTE each tossed shutouts while first baseman KAYLA GALLO delivered the walk-off in the eighth inning of the opener and homered in the nightcap. The victories stretched MSU's winning streak to four as it improved to 11-5 overall, 10-4 in NJAC play.

In the opener, Cavallaro outdueled Kean lefty Taryn DiGiacomo in a game that needed an extra-inning to be decided. Cavallaro (7-2) went the distance for her first shutout of the season, allowing five hits, striking out four, and walking two. DiGiacomo (8-4) fanned seven in 7 1/3 innings and gave up one run and six hits.

Each team got their chances to put a run on the board. Montclair's came in the third as it put runners at second and third with two out. However, DiGiacomo got a ground out to end the threat. In the top of the fourth, it was the Cougars turn as it too had second and third with one out. Cavallaro came up with a ground out and line out to quell that threat keeping the game scoreless.

Montclair flashed more impressive defense the next two innings. In the fifth, Kean had a runner at first with one out. Centerfielder ANNALESA DILAURENZIO fielded a fly ball and then gunned down the runner at third to end the innings. She would come up with an identical play to close out the sixth keeping the game at 0-0.

In the top of the eighth, it was Cavallaro's turn for a defensive play, snaring a comebacker to the circle and getting the lead runner at third. A fielder's choice and pop-up ended the inning and gave MSU a chance to win it, which they would do. With AMBER POWERS on second and one out, Gallo fouled off three two-strike pitches before lining an opposite-field shot down the left-field line that just eluded a diving Gianna Pickens for the winning run.

Powers and Gallo each had two hits for the Red Hawks.

The zeroes on the scoreboard continued into the second game as Volante and Heather Clevenger matched scoreless innings until the fourth when Montclair broke through with three runs.

Gallo singled back through the middle with one out and JENNA MELUSO smacked a double up the gap in left-center putting runners at second and third. Following a pop-up, ALYSSA BOROZAN cracked a two-run double for a 2-0 lead. Right-fielder ALEXIS LAW plated the third run with a base hit to right scoring Borozan.

Gallo put the exclamation point on the game in the fifth with a two-run homer to center field, her fourth of the season making the score 5-0.
The rest was left up to Volante (3-2), who recorded her second straight shutout. Volante retired six of the final seven batters she faced to complete her four-hit shutout. She struck out two and recorded 11 of her 21 outs on fly balls.

Gallo and Law had two hits apiece for MSU.

Montclair State heads back out on the road for its next game on Tuesday, April 27. The Red Hawks will be in Wayne, NJ taking on local rival William Paterson at 3:00 pm.