MONTCLAIR, N.J. (April 5, 2024) – The Rutgers University-Camden and Montclair State University softball teams split a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader here Saturday, with both teams winning by a 2-1 margin.
 
Rutgers-Camden won the opener and Montclair State took the nightcap.
 
The split leaves the Scarlet Raptors 11-11 overall and 2-2 in the conference. The Red Hawks also are 11-11 overall, but 1-3 in NJAC play.
 
The Scarlet Raptors return to NJAC play on Sunday when they host 23rd-ranked Ramapo College in a makeup doubleheader, beginning at 1 p.m. The twinbill was postponed by rain on its original date of April 2.
   
Freshman Sammie Friel tossed a four-hitter as she out-dueled MSU grad student Ali Cavallaro. Friel (5-3) allowed just one earned run and two walks, while striking out six. Cavallaro (3-6) allowed eight hits, two walks and two earned runs, while fanning five.
 
Montclair State took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third when sophomore shortstop Liz Mullen singled and eventually scored on a wild pitch.
 
Rutgers-Camden bounced right back in the top of the fourth inning with two runs, sparked by a leadoff single from senior center fielder Alexa McNee. She was sacrificed to second by junior catcher Kendall Lafferty. After sophomore right fielder Ava Maloof walked, sophomore first baseman Bella Lynch moved both runners up with another sacrifice. Junior left fielder Emily Dubiago followed with a clutch two-run single to center field.
 
McNee and sophomore second baseman Gianna Bauer led the Raptor attack with two hits apiece. Sophomore catcher Katie Brunner had two hits for Montclair State to account for half of the hits off Friel.
   
The Red Hawks bounced back for their own 2-1 win in the nightcap as junior Sage Rizzi (5-5) hurled a six-hitter, allowing two walks and one earned run, while fanning five. Junior Lindsey Rodzon worked the first five innings for the Scarlet Raptors, allowing 10 hits, one walk and one earned run, while striking out two. Freshman Anna Milillo (4-2) took the loss, allowing a pair of hits and one earned run in the decisive sixth inning. She struck out one.
 
Montclair State scored a run in the fourth inning on three hits, including an RBI single by senior first baseman Kayla Cosentino.
 
Rutgers-Camden tied the game in the fifth inning after Lynch led off with a single, was sacrificed to second by Dubiago and went to third on a single by senior designated player Kamryn Kennedy, who went 3-for-4 in the game. Lynch scored on a wild pitch.
 
In the sixth inning, a leadoff double by junior center fielder Madison Leech and a bunt single by senior left fielder Rileigh Glynn set the stage for a sacrifice fly by senior designated player Stephanie Seretis.