Jersey City, NJ- The Montclair State University softball team (20-12, 7-5 NJAC) saw season-high totals in runs and hits during a doubleheader sweep of New Jersey City (3-23, 1-11 NJAC). The Red Hawks won by scores of 10-0 in five innings and 10-2.
 
GAME ONE
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Montclair had two hits in the first three innings, one by CARLEE IANNONE and one by ASHLEY PALMIERI, but was unable to generate any true threat offensively.
• New Jersey City, in the bottom of the third, reached on an error in the lead off, and a sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second. CARLY MOCKENHAUPT shut down the rest of the inning with two strikeouts.
• The top of the fourth is where the Red Hawks opened the floodgates. A fielding error allowed SOPHIA ALONSO to reach, and she stole second. Following a fly-out, LIZ MULLEN singled to the pitcher with KATIE BRUNNER striking out, but reaching on a passed ball to load the bases. Julianna Casillas pinch hit and walked in an RBI for the game's first run, but, on that same play, Mullen fooled the defense and stole home for the second run. MARIALYS RICOURT pinch hit and grounded out, but brought in Brunner for another run. ASHLEY PALMIERI walked, and both runners advanced bases on a wild pitch that set up JORDYN HESTER with a two-run RBI single up the middle. ZOE TURNER relieved Hester on the bases and stole two bases before an RBI double to left field by JAYLA VASQUEZ capped off a six-run inning to give Montclair a 6-0 lead.
• The Red Hawks tallied four more runs in the top of the fifth to put the game in mercy-rule territory. Iannone led off with a double to left field. MIA RIDER pinch ran and advanced to third on a passed ball. Brunner belted an RBI double to plate Rider. She stole third and scored on a throwing error that tried to catch her stealing. DYLAN BOLES reached on a walk and moved to second on a single by MOLLY COLLIGAN. Palmieri loaded the bases when she was hit by a pitch, and a wild pitch scored Boles. The scoring concluded on a Vasquez sacrifice fly that allowed Colligan to plate a run for a 10-0 lead.
• The lead-off runner for the Gothic Knights was walked, but three-consecutive fielder's choices ended game one in favor of the Red Hawks.

 
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Mockenhaupt was exceptional inside the circle again. She tossed five innings of one-hit ball and struck out five batters.
• Iannone continued her hot streak with her third consecutive two-hit performance. She also has four extra-base hits in the last three games.
• Hester and Vasquez each batted in a pair of runs while Brunner scored two.

GAME TWO
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Vasquez got hit by a pitch to lead off the game and stole second. Alonso walked, and both were batted in on a two-RBI double into the right-center gap. Rider pinch ran for Iannone, where she moved to third on a flyout by Mullen, and a sacrifice fly by Hester to put the score at 3-0.
• The Gothic Knights scored their first run of the day in the bottom half of the opening game. A throwing error allowed a runner to reach first and round to second. A sacrifice bunt moved a runner to third for a ground out RBI to make the score 3-1.
• Turner led off and reached on an error that also advanced her to second. A wild pitch sent her to third, where she completed her trip around the bases on a sacrifice fly by Vasquez to push the score to 4-1.
• In the bottom of the third, the Gothic Knights saw back-to-back singles that put runners on the corners for another groundout RBI that cut the lead to 4-2.
• The Red Hawks collected a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning. Vasquez, Alonso, and Casillas each singled in consecutive at-bats to load the bases. Mullen nabbed the third sacrifice fly of the game for the Red Hawks to plate Vasquez. Hester was able to bring home Alonso on an RBI single to left field and put Montclair out in front 6-2.
• Montclair put the game away at the top of the seventh. Ricourt led off with a double to left center. Colligan replaced her on base and advanced to third on a single by Palmieri. Montclair had a well-executed double steal with Palmieri stealing third and Colligan scoring on the throw. Vasquez singled to left and stole second to put runners in scoring position. Another Alonso bunt single loaded the bases, and a run came across when Casillas was hit by a pitch for an RBI. A wild pitch scored Vasquez, and Mullen capped off an explosive offensive output with an RBI single through the left side.
• Despite giving up two lead-off singles, Montclair's defense did its job and got the three outs they needed to end the game and complete the sweep.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• The bats were on fire today, especially in game two, where they amassed 20 hits, which was a season high. Eight different Red Hawks picked up two hits or more.
• Alonso led in hits, going a perfect 4-for-4 with three runs scored.
• Some notable batting streaks:
  • Iannone extended her multi-hit streak to four games in a row
  • Mullen extended her hit streak to 13 games in a row
  • Palmieri extended her hit streak to seven games in a row.
• Montclair put together two 10-run performances, which were season highs on the season.
• JORDAN TARABOKIA earned her seventh win of the season. She pitched all seven innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on eight hits and struck out six batters.

 
FROM THE DIAMOND

• "Really proud of our team today. We came out aggressive, played with confidence, and did a great job swinging the bats up and down the lineup. Our pitchers had another strong showing and set the tone for us all day. It was a great team effort and a great step forward for us." Head Coach Nicole Degenhardt

 
UP NEXT

• Montclair returns home for its final non-conference doubleheader of the season. They face off against Baruch with game one set for 3:00 p.m.