MONTCLAIR, N.J. (April 8, 2017) – The Rutgers University-Newark softball team was swept in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) doubleheader at Montclair State University Saturday afternoon. The Red Hawks were able to hold the Scarlet Raider offense at bay for much of the day, earning a 3-1 triumph in the opener and a 6-1 win in the nightcap.
 
Montclair State improves to 12-10 overall and 3-3 in the NJAC, while Rutgers-Newark drops to 9-11 overall and 0-4 in league play. The Scarlet Raiders have the chance to bounce back quickly, hosting NJAC rival William Paterson University Sunday at 3 p.m. for pair. It will be the 2017 home opener for Rutgers-Newark.
 
Montclair State 3, Rutgers-Newark 1
The Red Hawks bested the Scarlet Raiders in a low-scoring opener, scoring single tallies in the third, fourth and fifth innings for a 3-0 advantage.
 
Junior Kelly Yusko led a seven-hit Rutgers-Newark attack in the opener, going 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI.

The Scarlet Raiders scored their run in the seventh as Yusko drove in one with a two-out run-scoring single.
 
Junior Morgan Walizer, freshman Sarah Stiehler, junior Sam Held, freshman Brittany Kalesse and junior Elizabeth Marflak had the other Scarlet Raider hits in the game, and Stiehler scored the Rutgers-Newark run.
 
The Scarlet Raider offense was able to get runners aboard in the fourth and fifth innings, but struggled to find the big hit to pull even.
 
Yusko took the loss in the circle to move to 6-6 in the season. She went 3.2 innings, allowing two runs on three hits and walk. Walizer tossed the final 2.1 frames, giving up a run on three hits and a walk. Junior Sam Keating picked up the complete-game win for MSU to move to 4-3, scattering seven hits and striking out three.
 
Montclair State 6, Rutgers-Newark 1
The Red Hawks took the lead early in the second game and never let go, scoring single runs in the first, third and fourth, and pushing across three tallies in the second.
 
Yusko started the nightcap for Rutgers-Newark, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits in 3.1 innings. Walizer tossed the final 2.2 for the Raiders, scattering four hits that led to two runs. Freshman Nicole Majewski fired a complete-game seven-hitter for Montclair State, improving to 4-3.
 
Seven players tallied one hit for Rutgers-Newark – Walizer, Stiehler, Yusko, Kalesse, Marflak, junior Morgan Schweitzer and freshman Samantha Hoffman. Stiehler, Schweitzer and Kalesse all doubled and Schweitzer drove home Kalesse for the R-N run. The pair led off the fifth inning with doubles, pulling the Scarlet Raiders within five.
 
Rutgers had several chances, picking up three hits in the first and fifth, but only could score the single tally.
 
The team's Alumni Field opener against William Paterson is slated for a 1 p.m. first pitch. Live stats will be available for the game via links at www.rutgersnewarkathletics.com or at www.sidearmstats.com/Rutgers/softball.