Montclair, NJ- The Montclair State University Softball team looks to keep its 2025 season going as they will face off with either fourth-seeded Stockton or top-seeded #2 Rowan on Saturday
 
GAME INFO
The second round of the tournament is being hosted by Kean University. Stockton vs. Rowan will take place at 11:00 a.m., where the losers will take on Montclair at 3:00 p.m. Live coverage links can be found at montclairathletics.com.


LAST TIME OUT
A late rally sunk Montclair in its first-round matchup at Ramapo, 5-0 on Tuesday. Ramapo made the first push for the lead in the bottom of the second inning. Facing two outs, they put runners on the corners on two consecutive Montclair errors, but KATIE BRUNNER got the Red Hawks out of the inning when she caught a popped-up bunt attempt, and the game remained scoreless. In the top of the third, RILEIGH GLYNN saw a two-out single to third base and stole second but was left stranded. After retiring the side in the bottom of the third, Montclair saw a golden opportunity to take advantage in the top of the fourth. After two strikeouts, JORDYN HESTER singled to the shortstop and was replaced on base by GIANNA STREPPONE. Brunner singled through the left side to move Streppone to third, and was followed by MARIALYS RICOURT, who pinch hit and reached on an error by the shortstop and loaded the bases. The Roadrunners got in and out of trouble with a third strikeout in the frame and kept the Red Hawks off the scoreboard. Both defenses held strong until the bottom of the sixth inning, when Ramapo broke the game wide open. They led off with a hard hit single to second base and advanced the runner to second on a sacrifice bunt. SAGE RIZZI got the strikeout she needed to put it at two outs, but Ramapo found the gap in right field and plated the first runner of the game. From there, two Montclair errors, an RBI single to the shortstop, and an RBI double to left center gave Ramapo a comfortable five-run lead heading into the final inning, where they stayed firm and retired the side to secure the first-round win.

TEAM LEADERS
MONTCLAIR STATE (23-16)
OPS: SOPHIA ALONSO, 1.006
Batting Average: SOPHIA ALONSO, .398
Hits: SOPHIA ALONSO, 47
Runs scored: SOPHIA ALONSO, 33
RBI: CARLEE IANNONE, 29
Doubles: LIZ MULLEN, 13
Triples: SOPHIA ALONSO, 6
Home Runs: JORDYN HESTER, 3
On Base %: SOPHIA ALONSO, .455
Stolen Bases: RILEIGH GLYNN, 34
 
Pitching Record: CHEYANNE WEIGAND, 8-4
Innings Pitched: SAGE RIZZI, 101.0
ERA: Bell Bucy, 1.65
WHIP: BELLA BUCY, 1.00
Strikeouts: SAGE RIZZI, 64
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, 144
Assists: MOLLY COLLIGAN, 92
Fielding%: 3 Tied at 1.000
Double Plays: MOLLY COLLIGAN, 4

STOCKTON (26-13)
OPS: Emma Coldsnow, 1.161
Batting Average: Emma Coldsnow, .376
Hits: Emma Coldsnow, 41
Runs scored: McKenna George, 12
RBI: Emma Coldsnow, 32
Doubles: Charli Czaczkowski, 15
Triples: McKenna George, 5
Home Runs: Emma Coldsnow, 8
On Base %: Emma Coldsnow, .500
Stolen Bases: McKenna George, 25
 
Pitching Record: Nerina Tramp, 14-5
Innings Pitched: Nerina Tramp, 130.2
ERA: Mia Barone, 1.06
WHIP: Nerina Tramp, .72
Strikeouts: Nerina Tramp, 143
Opponent's Batting Average: Nerina Tramp, .171
Least amount of Hits Allowed: Mia Barone, 38
Least number of Runs Allowed: Mia Barone, 11
Saves: N/A
 
Putouts: Alexa Panagopoylos, 199
Assists: Emily Spencer, 61
Fielding %: 9 Tied at 1.000
Double Plays: Two tied for 2
 
ROWAN (39-1)
OPS: Payton MacNair, 1.173
Batting Average: Payton MacNair, .479
Hits: Payton MacNair, 58
Runs scored: Liz McCaffery, 52
RBI: Payton MacNair, 33
Doubles: Two Tied for 14
Triples: Liz McCaffery, 6
Home Runs: Liz McCaffery, 3
On Base%: Payton MacNair, .528
Stolen Bases: Liz McCaffery, 24
 
Pitching Record: Rylee Lutz, 17-0
Innings Pitched: Rylee Lutz, 108.0
ERA: Rylee Lutz, 0.71
WHIP: Emily McCutcheon, .79
Strikeouts: Rylee Lutz, 89
Opponent's Batting Average: Rylee Lutz, .168
Least amount of Hits Allowed: Rylee Lutz, 63
Least number of Runs Allowed: Rylee Lutz, 12
Saves: Emily McCutcheon, 1
 
Putouts: Holly Markus, 246
Assists: Payton McNair, 80
Fielding%: 8 Tied at 1.000
Double Plays: Holly Markus, 13
 
SCOUTING STOCKTON & ROWAN
The Ospreys are the fourth seed in the NJAC Tournament at 26-13. They are coming off a win in the first round against Kean, 6-1, on Tuesday. In 2024, Stockton compiled a 24-17 overall record with a 13-5 record in the NJAC that qualified them for the conference tournament. They were defeated by TCNJ, 0-4, bounced back against Rutgers-Camden, 6-0, before being eliminated by Ramapo, 4-1. According to the 2025 NJAC Preseason Poll, Stockton was projected to finish fourth this season.
 
The Profs earned the top seed in the NJAC and enter as the #2 team in the country according to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) DIII poll. They have a 39-1 overall record and earned a first-round bye in the NJAC Tournament, but are coming off wins of 10-0 and 5-4 against Montclair on April 25.  In 2024, the Profs were an NCAA Tournament team with a 41-10 overall record and a 16-2 record in the NJAC. They swept the NJAC Tournament with a 1-0 against TCNJ, 7-0 against Kean and 1-0 win against Ramapo. In the NCAA Tournament, they made a great run. They went 3-0 in the Regional round with a 1-0 against Centenary (NJ) and two wins of 6-2 and 9-1 against MIT. In Super Regionals, they faced off with Christopher Newport where they lost game one, 6-0, but rallied to advance with wins of 2-0 and 6-3. In the NCAA Championship round robin, they defeated Case Western (4-2) and Wisconsin-Oshkosh (7-2), but two losses to the eventual national champion East Texas Baptist (7-0 and 5-2) saw them place third overall. According to the 2025 NJAC Preseason Poll, the Profs are slated to take home their 13^th NJAC Championship in program history. 

SERIES HISTORY
The Red Hawks and the Ospreys would meet for the 92^nd time in their history, while a matchup with the Profs would be contest 136. Montclair is ahead of the series against Stockton at a 61-28 record, but Rowan has the advantage in the series at 75-58.

LAST MEETING
In the last meeting against Stockton on March 29, they split in their doubleheader with the Ospreys taking game one 5-0, and Montclair taking game two 3-2. Montclair met Rowan on April 25 with Rowan taking both games 10-0 and 5-4.
 
UP NEXT
Montclair State University, with a win, would advance to the third round of the tournament on Tuesday, May 6 with a time, date, and location to be determined later on.