PREVIEW | Softball vs. Dean & Loras
 
Montclair, NJ- The Montclair State University Softball team seeks to close out The Spring Games strong as it takes on Dean and Loras on the final days of their spring break schedule.
 
GAME INFO
Montclair will face off against Dean at 10:00 a.m. and Loras at 2:30 p.m. at the Fortune Road Complex. Live coverage of the games can be found at montclairathletics.com.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Softball split their last day on Wednesday, losing to Catholic, 3-0, but besting Carlow, 9-1 in six innings. The Cardinals came out of the blocks hot. After they led off with a double to right-center, Catholic capitalized on a fielding error during a sacrifice bunt attempt and rounded third for the game's first run. They plated two more runs on an RBI double to left field and an RBI single through the left side to hold a 3-0 lead. Montclair's defense shut down the Catholic surge during the middle innings, but was unable to generate runs. Their best opportunity came in the bottom of the sixth, when SOPHIA ALONSO belted a ball into the left-center gap for a triple, but was left stranded. Catholic tried to extend the lead in the seventh with a single up the middle and a stolen base, but Montclair closed the door with a fly out and two strikeouts by CARLY MOCKENHAUPT. Montclair was unable to get anything going in their final frame, and they suffered the loss. 
 
The Celtics got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning. A triple to right-center set up an RBI single to right field. Carlow had bases-loaded and was primed for more runs, but a nice pick off from KATIE BRUNNER to Colligan, a strikeout by BROOKE MCHALE, and a ground out to ASHLEY PALMIERI limited the damage and kept it a one-run game. Montclair threatened in the top of the second. An error allowed RILEY MERKEL to reach, and she got pushed to second on a bunt single by KATIE BRUNNER. The two were left stranded, however, and the game stayed at 1-0 Celtics. ZOE TURNER led off the top of the third with a bunt single and stole two bases before an overthrow by the catcher allowed her to circle home to tie the game.  The Red Hawks finally took advantage with a three-run top of the fifth. EMMA DEPEPPO led off as a pinch-hitter and nailed down Montclair's third bunt single of the day. She stole second and was driven home by Palmieri on an RBI double to left field. Turner put down her second bunt single and stole second. Alonso grounded out, but batted in Palmieri to take a 4-1 advantage.  Montclair blew the doors off the game in the top of the sixth. After an out, Brunner put a single into center field and stole second for Mullen to plate her on an RBI double down the left field line. Julianna Casillas kept it going with an RBI single up the middle that scored Mullen, who made it all the way to third on an error by the center fielder. MARIALYS RICOURT pinch-hit and brought Casillas home on an RBI single to third. Another error helped Turner reach and advance to second, and scored Palmieri, who re-entered for Ricourt, and plated the final run of the game on an RBI single through the right side by Alonso.  The Celtics had bases loaded at the top of the sixth with one out, but a beautifully turned double play by EMILY LESHIK, SOPHIE SCHNEIDER, and CARLEE IANNONE from home to first triggered the run rule, and the Red Hawks won in six.
 

MONTCLAIR STATE (3-5): 2026 Statistics

DEAN (1-7): 2026 Statistics

LORAS (8-6): 2026 Statistics

SCOUTING DEAN & LORAS
The Bulldogs enter this matchup struggling with a 1-7 overall record after skids against Blackburn (3-1) and Russell Sage (7-2) on Thursday. In 2025, Dean went 9-21 and 2-14 in GNAC play and missed out on the conference tournament. According to the 2026 GNAC Preseason poll, Dean is projected to finish seventh in their division.
 
The Duhawks are off to a strong start to their season, posting an 8-2 record thus far. In their last matchups on Thursday, they bested Benedictine, 5-2, and Russell Sage, 12-1, in five innings. Last season, Loras finished 22-15 and 9-7 in American Rivers Conference play. They qualified for the conference tournament, but saw a first-round loss to Central, 10-1. According to the 2026 A-R-C Preseason Poll, Loras is set to place fourth this season.

SERIES HISTORIES
The Red Hawks and the Bulldogs will play each other for the first time, while Montclair and Loras meet for the fifth. The Red Hawks are a perfect 4-0 against the Duhawks.  
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LAST MEETING
Montclair came out victorious by a score of 3-2 on March 12, 2024.   
 
UP NEXT
Montclair will return home from Florida and host its home-opener on Wednesday, March 18. The first game is set for 2:00 p.m.