Union, NJ- The Montclair State University softball team (10-10, 0-4 NJAC) suffered doubleheader defeats on the road at Kean (13-11, 2-2 NJAC) by scores of 2-0 and 10-6 on Tuesday afternoon.
 
GAME ONE
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Kean took the lead in the first inning. Montclair got the first two batters out, but were unable to put the inning away as a single through the right side and an RBI double to left field scored the game's first run
• The Cougars threatened again in the bottom of the third. The lead-off runner walked and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and a pop-up to second. CARLEE IANNONE saved the inning on an unassisted groundout to end the inning and keep the score 1-0.
• In the bottom of the fifth inning, Kean extended the lead. An RBI triple down the left field line followed a one-out base hit up the middle. Montclair eliminated any further damage on a nice play by MOLLY COLLIGAN that forced a fielder's choice and throw out at home, and a fly out to LEAH MONSCHEIN.
• Facing one out in the top of the sixth, EMMA DEPEPPO pinch hit and erased Kean's no-hit bid with a single down the left field line. She stole second but was left stranded.
• Despite an Iannone walk in the seventh inning, Montclair was unable to rally and fell, 2-0, in game one. 

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Montclair was outhit by Kean 7-1.
• CARLY MOCKENHAUPT suffered the loss to bring her record down to 3-4. She pitched all six innings, surrendered seven hits and two runs, and struck out a batter.
• DePeppo has three hits in her last six appearances.

 
GAME TWO
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Montclair shifted gears and came out swinging in the first inning of game two. Alonso forced a lead-off walk with JAYLA VASQUEZ following with a single through the right side. Iannone pushed the ball through the same gap to plate Alonso. Haley Keiser pinch ran for Iannone, and an RBI single through the left side looked to plate two runners, but a nice relay throw got Keiser. KATIE BRUNNER stepped up and bombed a two-run shot over the left center fence for her first home run of the season, and Montclair took a 4-0 lead early.
• Kean answered back with three runs of their own. A lead-off triple led to a sacrifice fly for the first run. A pop-out was forced for the second out, but a single to left field and a walk set up a two-RBI double to left field, and the Cougars narrowed the deficit to 4-3.
• The Red Hawks saw an opportunity to get back to a multi-run lead at the top of the second. Facing two outs, Alonso singled up the middle and stole second. Vasquez had a hard-hit single to the Kean shortstop that allowed Alonso to round home, but the throw home got her and kept the score 4-3.
• The Cougars took the lead in the bottom of the second on a bizarre play. With bases loaded and one out, a sacrifice fly that plated the runner at third and moved the runner from second to third. The runner on first got caught in a rundown and eventually got tagged, but not before the runner on third used the distraction to run home and give Kean a 5-4 lead.
• Montclair saw an opportunity to tie the game at the top of the fourth. DYLAN BOLES laced a ball off the third baseman's glove and singled down the left field line and advanced to second on the throw. MIA RIDER pinch hit for her and advanced to third on a fly out, but was left stranded.
• The top of the fifth is where Montclair regained the lead. With one out, Vasquez batted a double to left center. Following the second out of the inning, LIZ MULLEN got all of the pitch and lifted it over the left-center fence and pushed the Red Hawks to a 6-5 advantage.
• Kean did not let Montclair hold the lead and responded big with a four-run inning. They scored on RBI singles to left and right field, a fielding error, and an RBI ground out to flip the script 9-6.
• The Cougars tacked on one more run in the bottom of the sixth, when a collision between outfielders allowed a runner to go from first to home and stamped a 10-6 win for Kean.  

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Mullen led game two, hitting 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored.
• Mullen and Brunner each hit their first home runs of the season.
• Iannone and Vasquez each tabbed two hits, with Vasquez hitting the second extra-base hit of the season.
• BROOKE MCHALE was the starter, but did not get out of the first inning, pitching two-thirds of the opening frame. She allowed three runs on three hits.
• JORDAN TARABOKIA was tabbed with the loss in relief. She went 5.1 innings and gave up seven runs (three earned) on six hits and struck out two batters.

 
FROM THE DIAMOND

• Quote to be added.

 
UP NEXT

• Montclair will look to get out of the skid as it returns home on Thursday, April 2, for a non-conference twin bill against Farmingdale State. First pitch from MSU Softball Stadium is set for 3:00 p.m.