Montclair, NJ- The Montclair State University softball team is set to host William Paterson for an NJAC twin bill on Tuesday afternoon

GAME INFO
The first of two games from MSU Softball Stadium is set for 3:00 p.m. Live coverage links can be found at montclairathletics.com.

LAST TIME OUT
Montclair earned its first NJAC wins of the season with a doubleheader sweep against Rutgers-Newark on Saturday. Montclair retired the side to open the game and struck first in the bottom of the opening inning. JAYLA VASQUEZ walked in the lead-off and stole second. SOPHIA ALONSO moved her to third on a sacrifice bunt, and CARLEE IANNONE nabbed a groundout RBI for the game's first run. Rutgers-Newark responded with a big top of the third. They led off with a single through the left side. Montclair generated two outs with a force out at second and a strikeout, but clawed back with a single to the pitcher and a walk to load the bases. The bases cleared on a three-RBI double down the left field line that gave them a 3-1 advantage. The Red Hawks did not allow them to have the lead for long, however, with a big response in the bottom of the frame. With one out, Vasquez and Alonso reached with walks. Iannone batted another RBI with a single up the middle that plated Vasquez. LIZ MULLEN succeeded with an RBI single down the right field line to score Alonso to tie the game. KATIE BRUNNER helped Montclair take the lead, belting a two-RBI double to left center for a 5-3 lead. It looked as if the Scarlet Raiders were going to pick up where they left off with a lead-off single, but a grounder to Mullen allowed her to turn a double play with ASHLEY PALMIERI and Iannone and shut down the inning. Montclair had some golden chances to extend the lead in the fourth and fifth innings, putting multiple runners in scoring position, but left four runners stranded. Despite two hits from Rutgers in the final two innings, the Red Hawks held firm to take game one.
 
Game two started with a pair of scoreless innings. Montclair got its scoring started in the bottom of the third. ASHLEY PALMIERI led off with a single through the left side and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by ZOE TURNER. Vasquez drove Palmieri home with an RBI double to right center for the game's first run. Alonso put down a well-placed bunt for a single with Vasquez going to third. Alonso stole second for Mullen to ground a ball up the middle for a two-RBI single and pushed the Red Hawks ahead 3-0. The Red Hawks extended the lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, MOLLY COLLIGAN pushed a hard-hit ball up to the pitcher for a single and reached third on a throwing error. ZOE TURNER singled to the shortstop and stole second, and was followed by three-straight walks that brought across two more runs and gave Montclair a 5-0 lead. Montclair closed the game out with three more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Brunner reached on a walk to kick off the inning. DYLAN BOLES singled to center field with a wild pitch, advancing both of them. Julianna Casillas subbed in to pinch hit and came through with a two-RBI double down the right field line that sent Brunner and Boles across home plate. ASHLEY PALMIERI re-entered the game to run and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Turner. Vasquez iced the game with an RBI single up the middle to invoke the mercy rule with an 8-0 score and complete the sweep.
 
 MONTCLAIR STATE (14-10, 2-4 NJAC): 2026 Statistics

WILLIAM PATERSON (10-11, 2-4 NJAC): 2026 Statistics
 
SCOUTING WILLIAM PATERSON
The Pioneers enter this NJAC doubleheader just under .500 at 10-11 and mirror Montclair's 2-4 NJAC record after being swept by TCNJ, 8-0 and 3-2 on Saturday. Last season, William Paterson finished 16-18 and 8-10 in NJAC play and just missed the conference tournament. According to the 2026 NJAC Preseason Poll, the Pioneers are predicted to finish seventh this season, but were labeled the conference's "dark horse" to make a run for the NJAC crown.   

SERIES HISTORY
The Red Hawks and the Pioneers renew their rivalry for the 126^th and 127^th times in a series that dates back to 1966. The Red Hawks are in front of the series at 74-51.  
 
LAST MEETING
These two teams faced off last season on April 22. The teams split with William Paterson taking game one, 3-2, but Montclair bouncing back for a 10-2 win in game two in six innings.
 
UP NEXT
Montclair State University will see a quick turnaround when it hosts FDU-Florham for a non-conference slate on Wednesday, April 8. The first game is set for 3:00 p.m.