Montclair, NJ- The Montclair State University Softball team will look to bounce back from Sunday's sweep when they host New Jersey City for a conference doubleheader on Tuesday.
 
GAME INFO
The first pitch of game one from MSU Softball Stadium is slated for 3:00 p.m. Live coverage links can be found at montclairathletics.com.


LAST TIME OUT
Montclair was swept on the road at The College of New Jersey by scores of 5-1 and 10-2 (5 Inns.) on Sunday. Montclair had runners on base in the first two innings, including LIZ MULLEN, who was in scoring position on second due to a walk and a single through the left side by DYLAN BOLES, but the Red Hawks were unable to generate a run. The Lions got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning on a solo home run over the center field fence, taking a 1-0 lead. The Red Hawks answered back in the top of the third. RILEIGH GLYNN singled to center field and stole second. After Mullen was walked, Glynn was sent home from second on an RBI single up the middle by Boles to even the score at 1-1. The tie did not last long, however, as TCNJ recaptured the lead in the bottom of the third on an error and an RBI bunt single to hold a 3-1 edge. Mullen once again got all the way to second base on a two-out double in the top of the fifth and was joined on base by Boles, but both were left stranded. In the bottom of that frame, the Lions extended the lead to 4-1 on another score coming off an error. Another Red Hawk in scoring position was stalled in the sixth inning, and it was there that TCNJ plated the final run of the game on an RBI single through the left side for the 5-1 lead. Montclair went down in order in the seventh and suffered the loss.
After striking out the side to open game two, TCNJ replicated the hot start on offense with an RBI ground out and a three-run homer over the left field fence for a 4-0 advantage. Montclair cut the score in half in the next half inning. Facing one out, Julianna Casillas doubled to left center and was followed by ABIGAIL ZEBICK, who plated her on an RBI single down the left field line. KATIE BRUNNER kept the bats going with a single to left field. Zebick was taken off base by a runner's interference, but Brunner completed her trip around the bases on an RBI single to right field by MADISON LEECH to make the score 4-2. An RBI double and another home run, this time a two-run shot over the center field fence, put the Lions in control, 7-2 after two innings. After a pair of scoreless innings, TCNJ saw a three-run bottom of the fourth on an RBI single to center field, an RBI single to left field, and an RBI ground out to put them in the run-rule situation heading into the fifth inning. JORDYN HESTER saw a double to right center in the top of the fifth, but that was the only offense Montclair could generate, and the Lions earned the sweep on the day.
 


TEAM LEADERS
MONTCLAIR STATE (20-10, 6-4 NJAC)
OPS: LIZ MULLEN, 1.023
Batting Average: LIZ MULLEN, .407
Hits: SOPHIA ALONSO, 37
Runs scored: SOPHIA ALONSO, 25
RBI: CARLEE IANNONE, 20
Doubles: LIZ MULLEN, 9
Triples: SOPHIA ALONSO, 5
Home Runs: Two Tied for 2
On Base %: LIZ MULLEN, .465
Stolen Bases: RILEIGH GLYNN, 21
 
Pitching Record: CHEYANNE WEIGAND, 7-2
Innings Pitched: SAGE RIZZI, 73.0
ERA: Bell Bucy, 1.65
WHIP: BELLA BUCY, 1.00
Strikeouts: SAGE RIZZI, 50
Opponent's Batting Average: BELLA BUCY, .213
Least amount of Hits Allowed: BELLA BUCY, 44
Least number of Runs Allowed: BELLA BUCY, 21
Saves: BROOKE BIAMONTE, 2
 
Putouts: DYLAN BOLES, 123
Assists: MOLLY COLLIGAN, 69
Fielding%: 4 Tied at 1.000
Double Plays: DYLAN BOLES, 3

 
NEW JERSEY CITY (14-12, 1-7 NJAC)
OPS: Meaghan Doyle, 1.207
Batting Average: Meaghan Doyle, .487
Hits: Meaghan Doyle, 37
Runs scored: Two Tied for 15
RBI: Mya Villanueva, 28
Doubles: Abby Vastro, 7
Triples: Cheyenn Fulton, 4
Home Runs: Four Tied at 1
On Base%: Meghan Doyle, .523
Stolen Bases: Emma Hanlon, 8
 
Pitching Record: Maggie Martin, 6-3
Innings Pitched: Danika Borza, 73.1
ERA: Danika Borza, 4.58
WHIP: Maggie Martin, 1.65
Strikeouts: Danika Borza, 24
Opponent's Batting Average: Danika Borza, .327
Least amount of Hits Allowed: Maggie Martin, 101
Least number of Runs Allowed: Maggie Martin, 58
Saves: N/A
 
Putouts: Emma Grochowski, 113
Assists: Jordan Mendolla, 77
Fielding%: 6 Tied at 1.000
Double Plays: Two Tied for 9
 
SCOUTING NEW JERSEY CITY
The Gothic Knights enter this game with a winning record of 14-12 but have struggled in NJAC play this season with a 1-7 conference record after being swept by William Paterson, 15-9 and 6-5 on Thursday.  In 2024, NJCU went 13-22 and 4-14 in NJAC play and missed the conference playoffs. According to the 2025 NJAC Preseason Poll, New Jersey City is slated for a 10^th-place finish

SERIES HISTORY
The Red Hawks and the Gothic Knights will match up for contests 52 and 53. Montclair has dominated this series with a record of 49-3.
 
LAST MEETING
In last season's doubleheader on April 16, 2024, each team took a game from one another, with Montclair winning game one 10-2 but NJCU bouncing back for a 4-3 lead.
 
UP NEXT
Montclair State University will remain home for Saturday, April 19, playing host to Kean for a doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m.