NEWARK, NJ – Freshman centerfielder Jessica Zelaya paced the Rutgers-Newark offense, but #18 Montclair State swept past the Scarlet Raiders, 7-0 and 13-2, in New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader on Alumni Field.
NCAA Statistics: MSU 7, Rutgers-Newark 0 MSU 13, Rutgers-Newark 2
Zelaya went two for four for the Scarlet Raiders (3-17, NJAC 0-4) in the opener and walked twice and score a run in the second game senior shortstop Charlotte Labate had an RBI single to cap a two-run third inning for Rutgers-Newark in the second game.
Sophomore Elena Morge (2-6) was the game one loser, striking out seven and walking four while giving up 10 hits. Morge, senior second baseman Shauna Gallagher, freshman first baseman Shannon Davis and senior catcher Nikki Spampinato each had a single in the game.
A fifth-inning single by Gallagher was the only other hit for the Raiders in game two.
RAIDER VISION HIGHLIGHT VIDEO
Senior third baseman Jackie Ferranti and sophomore second baseman Megan Durkin collected four hits apiece as Montclair State rolled to a Ferranti went four for five, scored five runs and delivered an RBI double in each game while Durkin finished four for seven while scoring three runs. She had a double and an RBI triple in the opener before contributing a two-run single in the nightcap.
The Red Hawks (16-2, NJAC 4-0) got six-hit, six-strikeout pitching from senior righthander Carolyn McCrea in the open while sophomore Elia Persico came on in the third inning of game two to get the win, going three full innings without giving up a run in the mercy-run shortened contest.
Ferranti walked and senior centerfielder Maureen Shockley hit a two-run homer just ahead of junior shortstop Jennifer Jimenez's fourth home run of the year as Montclair State jumped out to a quick 3-0 start in the bottom of the first in game two before a batter was retired.
The Red Hawks host Hunter in a non-conference doubleheader on Thursday at 3:30 while Rutgers-Newark is at Richard Stockton at 1 p.m. on Saturday for an NJAC doubleheader.
