Montclair, NJ - The Montclair State University softball team is back to NJAC action for the rest of the season, starting Rutgers-Camden on Saturday.  

GAME INFO
The first of two games at MSU Softball Stadium is set for 1:00 p.m. Live coverage links are available at montclairathletics.com.

LAST TIME OUT
Montclair earned a doubleheader sweep of Baruch with wins of 11-3 (5 Inns.) and 8-2 on Thursday. The Red Hawks took control in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, SOPHIA ALONSO put down a bunt single and stole second. LIZ MULLEN walked, and following a flyout, Montclair saw the runs flow. DYLAN BOLES walked to load the bases, and the Red Hawks scored on the following sequences: a bases-loaded walk, a bases-loaded hit by pitch, a bases-loaded walk, a wild pitch, a throwing error by the catcher, and another wild pitch that handed Montclair a 6-0 lead. Baruch scored in the top of the third inning, when a walk and a single through the left side set up an RBI double to left center and put the score at 6-1. Montclair answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame. JORDYN HESTER led off with a walk and was subbed out on base by Emme DePeppo. Boles singled down the left field line, and BROOKE MCHALE juiced the bases on a walk. Despite lining out into a double play, ASHLEY PALMIERI was hit by a pitch, and Julianna Casillas walked to drive in a run for a 7-1 edge. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Alonso once again put down a well-executed bunt single and stole second. Mullen walked and stole second to put two runners in scoring position. A wild pitch scored Alonso and placed Mullen on second for Boles to nab a sacrifice fly out to left field for a 9-1 advantage. The Bearcats forced a bottom of the fifth with a two-run top of the frame. A walk, a hit by pitch, and a single to the pitcher loaded the bases for a two-RBI double down the left field line that cut the lead to 9-3. The Red Hawks were able to ice the game in the bottom of the fifth. Palmieri led off with a single to left center and advanced to second on a collision between outfielders. LEAH MONSCHEIN batted an RBI single to left field to plate Palmieri. What was believed to be a third bunt single Alonso turned into a sacrifice bunt upon replay review, showing her out at first base, but MIA RIDER pinch hit and ended the game on an RBI single through the left side, and Montclair won 11-3.
Baruch put a runner on in the first inning on a walk, but a smooth double play from ASHLEY PALMIERI to Mullen to Boles ended the half inning. The game went into the third inning with no runs. The Bearcats threatened with a runner in scoring position, but another double play from CALLIE KOZENIEWSKI to Bole and back to Kozeniewski ended the inning. Montclair broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the third. With one out, Palmieri pushed a single up the middle and stole second. ZOE TURNER singled to the shortstop, but Palmieri was out on a runner's interference. Turner followed with two stolen bases and scored on an RBI single to the shortstop by Alonso. Following another stolen base by Alonso, Mullen batted an RBI single up the middle that allowed Alonso to score for a 2-0 lead. The Bearcats cut the lead to one at the top of the fifth. They earned a lead-off walk and moved the runner on a sacrifice bunt. A single up the middle, then put runners on the corners for a sacrifice fly that cut the lead to 2-1. The Red Hawks answered with a three-run bottom of the fifth. Palmieri led off with a single through the left side and was followed by a Turner walk. Alonso reached on a fielder's choice, and a really late decision and throw by the pitcher turned into an error that scored both Palmieri and Turner and moved Alonso to second. Another bunt single was turned into a sacrifice bunt upon review, this time during a Mullen bat. Alonso scored on an RBI single through the left side by Hester for a 5-1 lead. A walk, two hit by pitches, and a bases-loaded walk scored a run for Baruch, but Montclair was able to get out of the inning and limit the damage to 5-2. Casillas led off the bottom of the sixth, reaching on a throwing error and advancing to second. Following two outs, Palmieri singled to third base and moved Casillas to third. Palmieri stole second, and both moved a base on a wild pitch with Casillas scoring. Turner earned an RBI with a single to second base, and Alonso capped off the inning with an RBI triple to center field for an 8-2 advantage. Baruch fought back with back-to-back singles, but Montclair shut down the Bearcats once again and secured the sweep.
 
MONTCLAIR STATE (22-12, 7-5 NJAC) 2026 Stats

RUTGERS-CAMDEN (8-16, 3-9 NJAC) 2026 Stats
 
SCOUTING RUTGERS-CAMDEN
The Scarlet Raptors enter this showdown with a 6-18 overall record and a 3-9 NJAC mark, tied for seventh place. They are coming off losses of 14-0 and 4-0 against #20 Rowan on Tuesday. Last season, Camden finished 5-30 overall and 3-15 in conference play, which kept them out of the NJAC Tournament. According to the 2026 NJAC Preseason Poll, they were slated to finish ninth this season.

SERIES HISTORY
The Red Hawks and the Scarlet Raptors have matched up 65 times in their series. Montclair has a 46-19 record, but Rutgers-Camden has won five of the last seven.   

LAST MEETING
Last season's series, on April 5, was a split with Rutgers-Camden taking game one, 3-0, and Montclair seizing game two, 6-1.

UP NEXT
Montclair hits the road for an NJAC slate at Ramapo on Tuesday, April 22. The first of two games is set for 3:00 p.m.