Montclair, NJ - The Montclair State University softball team begins a short road trip to face off against #15 Stockton in an NJAC doubleheader on Saturday.

GAME INFO
The first of two games from the Stockton Softball Field is set for 1:00 p.m. Live coverage links can be found at montclairathletics.com.

LAST TIME OUT
Montclair split its non-conference twin bill against FDU-Florham on Wednesday with a 2-1 loss in game one, but a 5-4 win in game two. FDU got on the board in the first inning with a walk and an RBI double down the left field line to take a 1-0 lead. Montclair struck back in the bottom of the first. JAYLA VASQUEZ led off with a walk. LIZ MULLEN and CARLEE IANNONE each batted a single to load the bases for JORDYN HESTER to drive in a fielder's choice RBI to nod the game at 1-1. A lead-off double and a sacrifice bunt moved a runner to third for the Devils in the top of the second inning. After a forced pop-up for the second out, FDU broke through with an RBI single up the middle to retake the lead 2-1. The Devils threatened again at the top of the third with a lead-off walk and a single to the shortstop, but a well-executed double play stalled the FDU-Florham attack. The Red Hawks put together a good inning in the bottom of the fourth to try to tie the game. With two outs, EMMA DEPEPPO took a walk and advanced to second on a single through the left side by MOLLY COLLIGAN. ASHLEY PALMIERI batted a single to center field, and DePeppo rounded third, but was thrown out at home to halt the rally. A dropped fly ball allowed Iannone to reach in the lead off of the sixth. ABBY TOLE pinch ran for Iannone and reached third on a LEAH MONSCHEIN single up the middle. Monschein stole second to put two runners in scoring position, but FDU held with a strikeout and a flyout to center. The Devils took the win after retiring the side at the bottom of the seventh.
The Devils once again claimed the first run in the opening frame with a single through the right side and an RBI double down the left field line. Montclair answered this time with a pair of runs in the bottom frame. Vasquez and Mullen started off the inning with singles up the middle. Both runners moved on a groundout and were batted in on a two-RBI triple by Monschein to help claim a 2-1 lead. Mullen led off with a single to the shortstop in the bottom of the third. She stole second and advanced to third on a flyout, but was left stranded. FDU tied the game in the top of the fourth. A single and a sacrifice bunt moved a runner into scoring position for the Devils. They were followed by a walk and a single up the middle to load the bases. A wild pitch plated the tying run, but the Red Hawks stopped the bleeding when Iannone forced a foul out and DAKOTA PALMIERI got the strikeout to end the frame. The Red Hawks' best offensive inning of the doubleheader came in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, ASHLEY PALMIERI walked and moved to second on a single by ZOE TURNER. Mullen walked to load the bases for Iannone, who cleared them on a three-RBI double to left field and pushed Montclair out in front, 5-2. In the top of the sixth, the Devils cut into the advantage. A walk and a single through the left side put two runners on. The next batter walked, but an errant throw by the catcher allowed a run to score for a 5-3 Red Hawk lead. The game went into the top of the seventh with FDU making one final push. A throwing error allowed the lead-off runner aboard, and a double to left center put the tying run at second and the go-ahead run at the plate. Montclair surrendered a sacrifice fly for a 5-4 score. BELLA STAGLIANO, who replaced DAKOTA PALMIERI in the top of the fifth, struck out the next batter. A wild pitch allowed the tying run to reach third. The final FDU batter belted a ball straight at Stagliano, who gloved it for the final out and secured the win for Montclair.

MONTCLAIR STATE (24-17) 2026 Stats

STOCKTON (26-15) 2026 Stats
 
SCOUTING STOCKTON
Stockton enters this matchup with a 21-3 record and is currently sitting in second place in the NJAC with a 7-1 conference record. They are the #15 team in the nation according to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III national poll. They are coming off an NJAC split with Rutgers-Camden, winning game one, 9-2, but falling in game two, 1-0. Last season, Stockton finished 26-15 and 12-6 in NJAC play. In the NJAC tournament, they bested Kean in the first round, 6-1, but were eliminated with losses to Rowan (2-0) and Montclair State (6-4). According to the 2026 NJAC Preseason Poll, Stockton was slotted to finish fourth this season.

SERIES HISTORY
The Red Hawks and the Ospreys have met 92 times in their conference rivalry. Montclair is well ahead of the all-time series at 63-29.

LAST MEETING
These two programs met last in the NJAC playoffs last season on May 3, where Montclair eliminated Stockton by a score of 6-4.  

UP NEXT
Montclair continues its conference road trip in a matchup against New Jersey City University on Saturday, April 14. The first game is scheduled for 3:00 pm.