Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

NEWARK, NJ – Rutgers University-Newark flirted with an upset in game two before falling to No. 3 nationally ranked Montclair State in a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader on Alumni Field.  Game scores were 6-0 and 4-3.

IN THE SECOND GAME, sophomore rightfielder Kelsey Lucas ripped a 2-out, 2-run triple into the right center field gap to breathe life into Scarlet Raider attack after the Red Hawks had scored four runs in the top of the frame.

Junior third baseman Toniann Donde hammered a line drive ground rule double to straight away center field and scored on a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt by senior shortstop Tiara Santi bring the Raiders to within a run in the sixth.

MSU brought in senior all-American Alex Hill, who had hurled a 1-hitter in the first game of the day to notch the 101st win of her career, to strand Santi after freshman Anna Carlson bunted her over to third.  Hill earned her third save of the season by posting a strikeout and getting an inning-ending ground ball to second before striking two of the three batters that she faced in the seventh.

Senior catcher Gabby Spinella and senior first baseman Liane Drastal led off the second with back-to- back singles to set up Lucas's triple.

Sophomore righthander Jess Cannon came on the replace freshman starter Katie Boyd in the second inning.  Cannon got out of the inning by allowing just a single while posting three outs.  Boyd was charged with all four runs.  Cannon settled in to allow just two hits in the final five innings.

Sophomore rightfielder Jaclyn Allegretta, sophomore Brooke Powers, junior shortstop Brianna Davidson and junior first baseman Melissa Rustemeyer had singles during the Red Hawks' 4-run outburst.

MSU ran its winning streak to 14 games.

IN THE OPENER, Donde opened the Scarlet Raider first inning with a bloop single to short centerfield, but that was the last hit allowed by Hill (14-1) who struck out 10.  She retired 17 in a row before hitting Donde with a pitch in the sixth to allow the only other Raider base runner.

Senior lefthander Brianna Alicchio (3-4) gave up five runs on a dozen hits until giving way to Cannon with one away in the sixth.  After getting out of the sixth without yielding an addition run, an error opened the door for an unearned run on two hits against Cannon in the seventh.

Senior catcher Alisha Cumberton went three for three with a pair of RBI doubles to pace MSU's 14-hit attack.  Powers went three for four while Hill helped her own cause with two hits including the game-winning first inning single.  Junior first baseman Tara Patrucelli had a single, a double and scored twice while sophomore rightfielder Sophia Ivezaj also collected two hits.   Junior Melany Zeller delivered a 2-run pinch hit single in the sixth.

Rutgers-Newark (9-11, NJAC 0-2) travels to William Paterson on Thursday at 3 o'clock for an NJAC doubleheader.