JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | The New Jersey City University softball team scored five times on nine hits in game one but Montclair State University swept a makeup New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader from the Gothic Knights on April 12, winning 14-5 and 18-0 in five innings at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex.
 
In a makeup of a doubleheader postponed on April 7, Montclair, a long-time national power in the process of rebuilding this season, improved to 9-15 and 3-7 NJAC. NJCU fell to 2-20 and 0-10 in the NJAC.
 
The five runs for NJCU in game one were the second most ever scored by the Knights against Montclair and the highest run total in 14 years—dating to an 8-6 win for NJCU over the Red Hawks in Upper Montclair on April 17, 2001. It was the largest run count at home in a game played in Jersey City.
 
Senior designated player Melany Zeller (Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) hit a home run in each game of the doubleheader and junior right hander Brooke Powers (Newton, NJ/Pope John XXIII) was the winning pitcher in each contest (7-11).
 
GAME 1: Montclair 14, NJCU 5 (7 innings)
Leading 4-2 after one inning, the Red Hawks put five runs on the board in the top of the second with three more in the seventh in a 14-5 outcome. NJCU scored twice in the bottom of the first and added a three spot in the fifth that at the time cut the deficit in half (10-5).
 
Freshman catcher Cristina Otero (Jersey City, NJ/North Bergen) had a two-run double down the left field line in the fifth inning for her only hit and senior shortstop Crystal Torres (North Bergen, NJ/North Bergen) was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Junior first baseman Faith Ely (Vienna, NJ/Hackettstown) scored twice.
 
Powers helped her own cause with the bat, driving in four runs with a 2-for-5 showing, scoring twice. Senior shortstop Brianna Davidson (Monroe Township, NJ/Monroe Township) was 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs and freshman third baseman Alana Luna (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills) was 1-for-1 with three RBIs, courtesy of two sacrifice flies and a bases loaded walk.
 
Also for MSU, sophomore center fielder Lauren Guillen (Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus) and freshman second baseman Noel Hodgins (Paramus, NJ/Paramus) were each 2-for-5 with three runs. Eight of nine MSU starters had at least one hit.
 
After MSU scored three unearned runs in the first, junior center fielder Thalia Garcia (Ridgefield, NJ/North Bergen) singled and later scored on an error following a single by Ely. An RBI single through the left side by sophomore right-handed pitcher Brittany Paulikas (Fords, NJ/JFK-Iselin) cut the lead in half (4-2).
 
Montclair took advantage of two NJCU errors in the second, scoring five times on three hits. After a dropped fly led to the first run, Powers had an RBI single and the Red Hawks had their biggest play of the game when Zeller followed with a two-run homer to right center before a Luna sacrifice fly increased the margin to 9-2.
 
Senior left-handed pitcher Ashley Latushko (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) pitched the final 6.0 innings in relief of Paulikas. She allowing just three earned runs and seven hits with a walk. Powers struck out five and walked one while allowing five runs and nine hits over 113 pitches in a full 7.0 innings of work.
 
GAME 2: Montclair 18, NJCU 0 (5 innings)
MSU scored in double figures for the third time this season, running up a season-high 18 runs on 17 hits. Just 3-0 after two innings, the Red Hawks secured the win with six runs on six hits in the third and nine more tallies in the fourth on seven hits, aided by three errors when 15 batters came to the plate.
 
Powers scattered two singles over 60 pitches in the nightcap, striking out five without issuing a walk in the 5.0 inning shutout. She also homered at the plate and was 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs. Zeller homered, going 1-for-3.
 
Junior right/center fielder Sophia Ivezaj (Fairview, NJ/Cliffside Park) was 4-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs, freshman designated player/catcher Tina Ciacciarelli (Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) knocked in three and scored three times in a 3-for-4 showing and senior first baseman Melissa Rustemeyer (Colonia, NJ/Colonia) added three RBIs and two runs, batting 2-for-4. Davidson scored three times with two RBIs (2-for-3). Guillen chipped in a 2-for-3 outing with two runs and Hodgins scored twice as every MSU starter crossed the plate at least once. Latushko took the loss for NJCU.
 
OF NOTE:

• Montclair leads the all-time series, 34-2, and has won the last 12 meetings.

 
WHAT'S NEXT:
NJCU plays the second of three straight home doubleheaders on Tuesday, April 14 (3 p.m.) when it hosts William Paterson University (14-9-1, 5-5 NJAC; vs. Drew on April 13) in an NJAC twinbill at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex.