JERSEY CITY, N.J. | The New Jersey City University (NJCU) softball team dropped a pair of New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) games to Montclair State University, 10-0 (5 inn.) and 10-2.
Game 1: Montclair 10, NJCU 0 (5 inn.)
NJCU (3-22, 1-10) was held to one hit in the opening game of the doubleheader. Kiara Taylor (Berlin, Md./Stephen Decatur) continued her strong season, tallying the hit in the bottom of the fourth.
Montclair (19-12, 6-5) used eight hits to plate 10 runs and end the game in five innings. Carlee Ionnone led the way with a pair of hits from the dish while Carly Mockenhaupt (W, 7-4) pitched a complete game with five strikeouts.
After three quick innings, the score remained knotted at zero before Montclair exploded for six runs in the top of the fourth. Taylor tried to rally the Gothic Knights in the bottom of the frame, breaking up the no-hitter, but three subsequent outs ended the inning.
The Red Hawks continued their scoring spree, plating four runs in the top of the fifth to stretch beyond the eight-run mercy limit to end the game in five.
Game 2: Montclair 10, NJCU 2
NJCU (3-23, 1-11) found its offense in game two, scattering eight hits to score two runs. Emma Hanlon (Highland, N.Y./Highland) (2-for-3) and Taylor (2-for-4) led the charge at the plate, while Maggie Martin (Spring Lake Heights, N.J./Manasquan) tallied a team-high 2 RBI.
Montclair (20-12, 7-5) tallied a season-high 20 hits in the win over the Gothic Knights, led by Sophia Alonso's perfect 4-for-4 game. In the circle, Jordan Tarabokia (W, 7-4) tallied six strikeouts in seven innings.
The Red Hawks kept their scoring streak going by plating three runs in the top of the frame. The Gothic Knights ended their three-game scoreless streak when Martin brought home Danika Borza (Keyport, N.J./Keyport), who reached earlier on an error.
NJCU found its second run of the game in the bottom of the third and cut their deficit in half when Martin followed two singles by Taylor and Hanlon with an RBI. The Gothic Knights' offense went dormant after the third as Montclair scored six more run over the final innings to claim the win.
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