North Myrtle Beach, SC – The Montclair State softball team suffered a tough, extra-inning loss in their opener, but bounced back with an 8-3 win in the second game earning a split at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic on Wednesday afternoon.
The Red Hawks (4-2) fell to Lebanon Valley, 2-1 in eight innings before posting a victory against Penn College. MSU will have the day off on Thursday, before completing its trip on Friday, March 11 with contests against Penn State Abington (1:30 pm) and Cairn University (3:30 pm).
In the first game against Lebanon Valley, Montclair was able to scratch out a run in the third.
CHLOE SAPERSTEIN led off with a walk and pinch-runner
ANITA HASSEN went to second on a wild pitch and got to third on a ground out.
ALYSSA BOROZAN brought home Hassen with a ground out for the 1-0 lead.
The Dutchmen would answer in the bottom of the fourth. Morgan Comfort singled in the infield with two outs and stole second. Anna Marie Hockman lined a double to left, scoring Comfort with the tying run.
That's how the game stayed as LVC's Jordan Walter and Montclair's
ALI CAVALLARO locked up in a pitcher's duel until the bottom of the eighth innings when Lebanon Valley was able to plate the game-winning run. Julia Craig lined a one-out single and stole second. Cavallaro would get a pop up for the second out, however Hailey Bashore grounded a ball up the middle that went just out of the reach of second baseman
ALEXIS LAWl allowing Craig to cross the plate with the decisive run.
Cavallaro struck out four as she fell to 2-1 on the season.
Montclair State would put up a five spot in the top of the first inning against Penn College. Borozan scored on a two-out error for the first run. DeBell added an RBI double with
AMBER REED bringing home another on an infield single. Freshman
MARIAH CARRASCO capped the inning with a two-run double.
The Lions answered with a run in their half of the first inning, however Montclair countered with three runs in the second.
KAYLA COSENTINO doubled in Borozan and Reed's RBI single made the score, 7-1.
ALEXIS LAW plated the final run on a fielder's choice giving MSU a seven-run cushion.
Penn College would score twice in the bottom of the seventh to pull within 8-3, but Cavallaro came on and retired the final two batters.
DeBell and Reed had two hits each for MSU.
KAYLA VOLANTE (2-0) earned the victory as she struck out five in 6 1/3 innings.