MONTCLAIR, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Montclair State University (23-9, 9-5 NJAC) moved into third place in the New Jersey Athletic Conference standings, sweeping a twice postponed NJAC doubleheader from the New Jersey City University softball team (4-26, 0-14 NJAC) on April 22 at the MSU Softball Stadium. The Red Hawks won game one, 8-1, before taking the nightcap in five innings, 17-0.
 
Senior center fielder Julie Squeo (Carlstadt, NJ/Becton Regional) was a combined 3-for-5 in the two losses and now has 104 career hits. MSU was powered by the first two batters in its lineup. Junior right/center fielder Victoria Gehring (Hopatcong, N.J.) was a combined 5-for-6, with four RBIs and three runs while sophomore second baseman Kaylee Powers (Newton, N.J.) also was 5-for-6 with five runs scored and two RBIs.
 
MSU also received two excellent pitching performances. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Courtney Politz (Bloomfield, N.J.) was the winner in game one (2-1), striking out two and walking none in 4.0 shutout innings of relief, allowing a lone hit. She needed 29 pitches to retire 13 batters. Sophomore righty Nicole Majewski was dominant in game one, improving to 10-1. In 4.0 shutout innings, she scattered four hits and struck out two without a walk over 44 pitches.
 
GAME 1: Montclair State 8, New Jersey City 1
Tied 1-1 entering the bottom of the third, MSU scored three times and added two more runs in the fourth and sixth innings for the 8-1 win. The Red Hawks had an 11-8 margin in the hits column.
 
The biggest hits for Montclair came in the third when senior catcher Alana Luna (Wayne, N.J.) broke the 1-1 tie with an RBI single and junior first baseman Samantha DiClementi (Washington Township, N.J.) followed with a two-run double. Powers later hit a solo home run in the fourth inning.
 
Powers was 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs, Gehring went 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI and DiClementi chalked up two RBIs and a run scored. Sophomore third baseman Elena Radesich (White Plains, N.Y.) contributed two RBIs in a 2-for-3 effort (1 run, 1 walk). Sophomore righty Valentina Cucci (Bronx, N.Y.) tossed the first 3.0 innings, allowing a run on seven hits.
 
Squeo and freshman shortstop Dayanara Flores (Jersey City, NJ/Hudson Catholic via M.E.T.S. Charter) each batted 2-for-3 for NJCU. Junior third baseman Hannah Gavin (Bordentown, NJ/Bordentown) scored the lone run, batting 1-for-3.
 
GAME 2: Montclair State 17, New Jersey City 0 (5 innings)
Montclair scored the most runs against NJCU in a road game this season after exploding for eight runs in the bottom of the first when 12 batters came to the plate for the Red Hawks. MSU scored twice in the second and third innings and five in the fourth frame when nine batters stepped to the plate.
 
MSU had 21 hits—the most allowed by NJCU since Rowan had 30 hits on April 23, 2016. The Red Hawks had six extra-base hits. Freshman shortstop Amber Powers (Newton, N.J.) led the attack, batting 4-for-4 with three runs and one RBI while her sister Kaylee Powers scored three times, going 2-for-3. Gehring finished with three RBIs in a 3-for-3 effort.
 
Also for MSU, DiClementi had three RBIs, Luna and her replacement at catcher, freshman Alexa Penna (Hillsborough, N.J.) each produced two RBIs and junior designated player Lia Stamile (Rockville Center, N.Y.) scored twice in a 2-for-3 reserve role. Junior center fielder Gabby Slade (Hillsdale, N.J.) scored twice (2-for-3, 1 RBI) and sophomore pinch hitter/first baseman Elenis Garcia (Elmwood Park, N.J.) was 2-for-2 with an RBI. Sophomore righty Kiara Ruiz (Wharton, N.J.) tossed the final inning for Montclair, striking out two (1 walk).
 
Freshman second baseman Dulce Almonte (Jersey City, NJ/Snyder via County Prep) had one of NJCU's four hits, collecting a double. Junior righty Christina Mezey (Jersey City, NJ/Saint Dominic Academy) was on the short end of both decisions in the circle for the Knights.
 
Luna and DiClementi each had two-run doubles in the opening inning and after an RBI triple by Slade, Gehring produced a two-run single for the 8-0 lead. Penna later had a two-run double in the fourth inning.
 
NOTABLES:

• 41st and 42nd meetings; Montclair State leads the all-time series, 40-2. The Red Hawks are 13-3 at home this season.
• The doubleheader was originally scheduled for April 17 then postponed again on April 20.

 
UP NEXT:

• NJCU heads to Ewing, N.J. for an NJAC doubleheader against The College of New Jersey on Tuesday, April 24. First pitch is 3 p.m. The Lions are in first place in the conference at 24-6 overall and 12-2 in the conference. It will be the 41st and 42nd meetings in the series (TCNJ leads, 39-1).

 
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