Box Score WAYNE, N.J. – Second-seeded Montclair State (36-5, 15-3 NJAC) used a six-run sixth inning to eliminate sixth-seeded Rutgers-Camden (18-16-1, 9-9 NJAC), 6-1, in Game 7 of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Softball Tournament May 3.
The Red Hawks advance to play fourth-seeded Kean in Game 9 on Saturday at 2:00 pm.
The two teams combined to strand seven runners during the first three innings of the contest. The Red Hawks threatened with two on and one out in the bottom of the first, but sophomore pitcher Brittany Scott worked out of it with a pair of groundouts. The Scarlet Raptors had the same situation during the top half of the second, but a foulout and strikeout ended the threat. Again MSU had two aboard during the bottom of the second, but a final groundout finished the inning.
Scott was able to help her own cause and break the scoreless deadlock during the top half of the fourth. She led off with an infield single off the third baseman's glove and was sacrificed to second by junior shortstop Krystine Rice. Sophomore third baseman Katie Larson then hit a hard grounder to the shortstop's left, and between the high hop and Scott's leadoff from second serving as a bit of a shield, the ball got through for an RBI-double, plating Scott for the game's first run.
The Red Hawks exploded for a six runs during the bottom of the sixth inning. Junior first baseman Tara Petrucelli delivered a one-single up the middle and was lifted for pinch runner Sam Camacho. Junior designated hitter Melany Zeller had her own base hit back up the middle, and was replaced by pinch runner Sophia Ivezaj. Camacho moved to third via a wild pitch, then scored when senior second baseman Katie Muglia dropped a base hit into center field. Junior Briana Davidson loaded the bases with her single to center, and pinch hitter Dana Egan hit a grounder that the second baseman bobbled, leaving her only play to first and allowing Ivezaj to touch the plate safely. Sophomore left fielder Brooke Powers drove in two more runs with her base hit to left-center field, and senior pitcher Alex Hill blooped a single into shallow center to score Powers.
Senior third baseman Dana Amato was 3-for-4 for Montclair State. Powers finished 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI and a run scored. Hill (25-3) struck out 12 and walked two, allowing just one run in the complete game.
Sophomore third baseman Katie Larson went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Scott gave up six runs on 11 hits and walked two batters in 6.0 innings.
