Highlights

NEWARK, N.J. (April 12, 2018) – The Rutgers University-Newark softball team was swept in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) doubleheader Thursday afternoon on Alumni Field by rival Montclair State University.
 
Rutgers-Newark moves to 15-10 overall and 1-5 in NJAC play, while Montclair improves to 16-8 overall and 4-4 in the conference.
 
Montclair State 9, Rutgers-Newark 0 (5)
The pitchers were the story in the early going as freshman Paige Masiello for the Scarlet Raiders and sophomore Valentina Cucci matched zeroes for the first three innings.
 
MSU was able to break through with four runs on four hits in the fourth, and the Red Hawks tallied five times in the fifth on five rips and an error for the final margin.
 
Masiello suffered the loss, falling to 8-6, while Cucci earned the triumph, throwing a complete-game two-hitter. She improved to 4-1.
 
Senior Kelly Yusko tallied one of the Scarlet Raider hits, lacing a double off the wall in left-center, and senior Morgan Schweitzer picked up the other hit. Freshman designated player Julie Contravo worked the lone Scarlet Raider walk, and shortstop Amber Powers led the MSU offense, going 2-for-3 with three RBI.
 
Montclair State 8, Rutgers-Newark 3
The nightcap featured 13 hits for each team, but the Scarlet Raiders hit into some tough luck with runners on base and ultimately fell by the 8-3 final.
 
Yusko led the way for the Newark offense, going 3-for-4 with an RBI, and Schweitzer went 3-for-4 as well. Senior Kayla Gallo and sophomore Brielle Mattiello each had two knocks, with Mattiello scoring once and drawing a walk. Sophomore Sarah Stiehler had a double and two RBI, and freshman Jaclyn Arute doubled and scored twice.
 
Rutgers-Newark got on the board with a run in the bottom half of the first inning. Arute was hit by a pitch to lead off, and Stiehler followed with a sacrifice bunt. Next up was Yusko who delivered the first Raider run of the doubleheader, lining a single up the middle for a 1-0 lead.
 
The Red Hawks responded with six runs in the second to take a 6-1 lead, totaling seven hits in the rally. MSU scored single runs in the fifth and sixth to open an 8-1 lead, but the Scarlet Raiders would battle back in the bottom of inning number six. Mattiello opened the frame with a base hit and Arute followed with a ground-rule-double down the line in left. Stiehler stepped to the plate next, walloping a two-run double to right-center, however, Cucci came on for the Red Hawks and was able to record the final six outs to seal the win.
 
Yusko took the loss for Rutgers-Newark, going 5.1 innings. She falls to 3-4 on the season. Senior Morgan Walizer tossed the final 1.2 frames for the Raiders, giving up one hit and striking out two, and Nicole Majewski threw 3.1 innings to pick up the win for MSU (6-1).
 
Up Next: Rutgers-Newark will take on NJAC rival Rutgers University-Camden Saturday night in Camden. The opening game of the league doubleheader is slated for a 6 p.m. start.