Montclair, NJ- After facing a pair of doubleheader defeats to open up conference play, the Montclair State University softball team (12-10) bounced back for a non-conference doubleheader sweep of Farmingdale State (5-9) with wins of 6-0 and 8-3 on Thursday evening.
 
GAME ONE
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• JAYLA VASQUEZ opened up game one strongly with a lead-off triple to right field. ZOE TURNER followed with an RBI single to left field that plated Vasquez. On that same play, Turner advanced to second on the throw and reached third on a fielding error by the catcher. LIZ MULLEN lined out to right field, but got the sacrifice fly RBI with Turner scoring to give Montclair a 2-0 lead.
• After a pair of scoreless frames, Vasquez, Turner, and Mullen each batted consecutive singles in the bottom of the third. With one out, CARLEE IANNONE nabbed a sacrifice fly RBI to score Vasquez and moved runners into scoring position. Turner was able to score on an error during RILEY MERKEL's at bat, and the scoring ended with Merkel swiping second and Mullen scoring on the throw down for a 5-0 Red Hawk lead.
• Montclair concluded its scoring in the bottom of the third. Turner singled to the shortstop and stole both second and third. Iannone walked and was replaced by HAILEY KEISER. With runners on the corners, Keiser stole second, and an off-target throw down allowed Turner to score for the 6-0 lead.
• The Red Hawks held firm for the final two innings for the shutout.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Turner got herself back on track, going 3-for-3 with an RBI, three runs scored and two stolen bases.
• Vasquez finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and had the lone extra base hit of game one.
• BROOKE MCHALE notched her third win of the season as the starter. She went five scoreless innings, allowing five hits and striking out two batters.
• JORDAN TARABOKIA pitched two innings in relief and allowed one hit and struck out a batter.
• Montclair earned its eighth shutout win of the season.

 
GAME TWO
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Vasquez opened up game two the same way she did game one, with a triple, this time down the right field line. A wild pitch eventually plated her for a 1-0 Montclair lead.
• Montclair used the bottom of the third to extend the lead to 3-0. LEAH MONSCHEIN walked in the lead off and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by ASHLEY PALMIERI. Vasquez singled to center field and put Monschein on third. Vasquez stole second, and Turner walked for a bases-loaded situation. Iannone reached first on an error by the shortstop, but batted in Monschein. Mullen shadowed with a sacrifice fly that brought Vasquez home.
• Farmingdale State rallied in the top of the fourth. The Rams led off with a single through the left side. Montclair forced two outs, but a walk put two runners on for a two-RBI double to right center. A fielding error then allowed another runner to score and tied the game at 3-3.
• Montclair was able to regain the lead in the bottom half of the frame. DYLAN BOLES opened the frame with a double down the left field line. MIA RIDER pinch ran for her and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by EMMA DEPEPPO, and was plated on a sacrifice fly by Monschein for a 4-3 lead.
• The bottom of the fifth is where Montclair seized control of the game. Facing one out, Iannone singled down the left field line. Julianna Casillas replaced her on base and got to second on a wild pitch. Mullen singled up the middle and advanced to second, while Casillas reached third. MARIALYS RICOURT pinch-hit and batted an RBI single to score Casillas. ABBY TOLE pinch ran for Ricourt and stole second. Boles then went up to bat for the craziest play of the season. She batted a ball to first base that took a hop between two defenders for a two-RBI single. The right fielder threw home to try to catch Tole at home, but misfired and allowed Boles to round second and go to third. The throw to get her out a third was also misfired, and Boles made a complete trip around the bases to push the lead out to 8-3.
• Montclair sought to extend the lead in the sixth. Vasquez and Turner each singled to open up the inning. Casillas followed with a single of her own through the left side, but Vasquez was forced out on third. Turner and Casillas were eventually left stranded, but the Red Hawks retired the side in the second and completed the sweep.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Vasquez capped off a stellar day, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. She totaled five hits and four runs scored on the day.
• Boles was a perfect 3-for-3 in game two with two RBI and a run scored. It was her first multi-hit performance of the season and tied a career high she had last season against Neumann.
• The Red Hawks finished with four sacrifice flies today.
• BELLA STAGLIANO got the nod and pitched 3.2 innings. She allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and struck out two batters.
• DAKOTA PALMIERI entered in relief for the win. She pitched 2.1 innings and didn't allow a hit or a run, and struck out a batter.
• Carly Mockehaupt retired the side in the seventh inning.
• MSU Softball Stadium has been a safe haven for the Red Hawks since last season, posting a total record of 23-5, and is a perfect 8-0 at home thus far.

 
FROM THE DIAMOND

• Quote to be added.

 
UP NEXT

• Montclair is back to New Jersey Athletic Conference action with a home doubleheader on Saturday, April 4 against Rutgers-Newark. First pitch of game one is slotted for 1:00 p.m.