Montclair, NJ – The Montclair State University softball team (15-7, 3-1 NJAC) went on the road for its first true doubleheader of the season and shut down New Jersey Athletic Conference foe Rutgers-Newark (6-12, 0-3 NJAC), 3-0 and 5-0 on Tuesday afternoon.

Game 1

How It Happened

• After two outs in the opening frame, CARLEE IANNONE cracked a double to center field to keep the inning alive. She was able to round the bases for the series' first run on a throwing error by the third baseman to give Montclair a 1-0 lead.
• The Red Hawks got themselves out of a few jams to keep the shutout intact. They faced a bases-loaded situation with one out in the bottom of the third, where SAGE RIZZI struck out a batter looking and then forced a pop-up to LIZ MULLEN at shortstop. In the bottom of the fourth, the Scarlet Raptors had another bases-loaded opportunity that was shut down again by the Red Hawks.
•  The top of the sixth inning is where Montclair extended its advantage in game one. SOPHIA ALONSO led off with a double to left field and then stole third after Mullen was walked. Iannone then showed up again with a two-RBI single to center field to extend the lead to 3-0. The Red Hawks had the opportunity to score more with their own bases-loaded situation but came up short.
• Rutgers-Newark had a chance to make a comeback in the top of the seventh. They saw their third bases-loaded opportunity of the game with only one out. The Red Hawk defense came through with a forceout at home and a strikeout from relief pitcher BROOKE BIAMONTE to take game one.

Inside the Numbers

• Iannone led the way with two hits and two RBI in the game. Joining her with a multi-hit performance were MOLLY COLLIGAN and KATIE BRUNNER, who each went 2-for-3 on the day. Brunner also led defensively with seven putouts.
• Rizzi improved her record on the year to 6-2 with the win today. She went 6.2 innings and allowed no runs on five hits and struck out four batters.
• Biamonte earned her second save of the season, replacing Rizzi in the final inning and getting the final two outs of the game.

Game 2

How It Happened

• Alonso kicked off game two with a triple right center and eventually scored on a wild pitch to give Montclair a 1-0 lead.
• The Red Hawks extended the lead to 3-0 in the top of the second frame. JAYLA VASQUEZ was walked in the lead off and rounded second to third on a single by RILEIGH GLYNN. Glynn stole second to put herself in scoring position, and Alonso loaded the bases when she was walked. Montclair then caught Rutgers-Newark off guard when, on JORDYN HESTER's bases-loaded walk, Glynn stole home for the second run of the inning.
• Iannone pushed the lead out to 4-0 in the top of the fourth inning on an RBI single to right field that plated Mullen. The lead then went to 5-0 in the top of the seventh when Brunner hit a sacrifice fly to right field that scored MARIALYS RICOURT.
• The Red Hawk defense shut down the Scarlet Raider offense and completed the clean sweep to win 14 of the last 15 games.

Inside the Numbers

• Iannone added another RBI in game two, extending it to three between the two games. She now leads the team with 19 on the year.
• The Red Hawk offense was more spread out in game two, with seven different players each notching a hit.
• BELLA BUCY went the distance to push her record up to 6-2 on the year. She allowed only four hits in the complete-game shutout and collected six strikeouts in the process. She and Rizzi each have 45 strikeouts on the year.

Up Next

• Montclair State will stay on the road when it travels to Rutgers-Camden on Saturday, April 5 for a conference doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m.