MONTCLAIR, N.J. – A 13-inning scoring drought and a pair of big innings for Montclair State University spelled trouble for the Keene State College softball team in Sunday's non-conference doubleheader at the MSU Softball Stadium as the Owls dropped 6-0 and 4-2 decisions in their first games since the conclusion of the South Carolina Spring Break trip on March 17.

Records

• Keene State:  4-8
• Montclair State:  12-2

How It Happened – Game One
Both teams finished with seven hits, but four KSC errors and a five-run fifth inning for the Red Hawks proved to be the difference in the opener.  Starters Lilah Demmy for the Owls and Ali Cavallaro for Montclair traded zeros for the first three innings before the Red Hawks took a 1-0 lead in the home half of the fourth with an unearned run, one of five surrendered on the game for KSC.  The inning began with a miscue that resulted in Kayla Cosentino reaching second.  Liz Mullen then singled to put runners at the corners with still nobody out, but Demmy did well to limit the damage, with the only run scoring on Amber Reed's fielder's choice grounder to short. 

KSC found themselves trailing 1-0, but was not without opportunities in the game, especially early.  In the second, Mia Ferry led off with a triple to left but was left there as the next three were sent down in order by Cavallaro.  In the third, Amanda Cerretani led off with a single and Molly Murray beat out an infield single to put two on with one out, but a strikeout and foul out snuffed out that threat and kept it scoreless at the time.

The Red Hawks were mostly kept quiet for the vast majority of the first four innings, but they piled on five runs in the fifth to break what was a 1-0 game open.  Mariah Carrasco doubled to center and Alyssa Borozan singled in a four pitch span to start the inning and quickly double the lead, with Borozan then stealing second.  Demmy retired the next two in a 2-0 game, but an error on a fly ball to right that should have ended the inning instead produced another run, and Montclair then went up 6-0 on Reed's three-run blast to center.

"Montclair is a solid team," said Keene State head coach Carrah Fisk Hennessey.  "We made a couple of costly errors in the first game that allowed the score to get away from us a bit.  Lilah pitched well."

The six runs proved to be enough for Cavallaro (6-1), who allowed seven hits and no runs while going the distance.  She struck out six.

After the five-run fifth, KSC went down in order in the sixth and put two on with one out in the seventh, but could not crack the scoreboard.

Demmy (2-1) allowed six runs, but only one earned, and seven hits in six innings.  She walked one and struck out four.

Cerretani finished 2-for-3 to pace KSC at the plate, while Ferry was 1-for-3 with a triple.

Reed drove in four and finished 1-for-2 with the homer and a walk for Montclair State.  Borozan was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

How It Happened – Game Two
The Owl offense remained dormant until a major threat in the seventh, and Montclair's four-run third ultimately proved to be enough as they completed the sweep.  KSC had just three hits – all singles – over the opening six frames as they were held scoreless by Red Hawks' starter Nikki Lusnia.  They had only one runner reach scoring position (Hayley Townsend with two outs in the second) in that span and otherwise went down in order three times.  The Owls and Carissa Miller matched zeroes initially, getting out of two-on and one-out trouble in the first with a pair of strikeouts and then whiffed to more in a quick second, easily working around a one out hit batter.  However, Keene State ran into trouble again with the big inning as Montclair scored four times in the third.  Borozan singled to center and then swiped second to lead off and Jenna Meluso then dunked a single into left to put two on quickly.  Cosentino loaded the bases with a single that rolled its way into left, and Mullen followed with a two-run double to right center to put the Red Hawks on the board.  After a pitching change, Stephanie Seretis made it five consecutive hits for the home team with a single to center off Mia Ferry that made it 3-0.  Reed then bounced into double play to snap the streak, but it still brought home another run as KSC fell into a 4-0 deficit.

Ferry otherwise kept the game right there and gave the Owls a chance, working around a single and an error in the fifth for a scoreless inning.  Overall, in four innings of relief, she allowed no runs and three hits and kept the ball on the ground, getting seven ground ball outs on 49 pitches.

KSC snapped a string of nine consecutive batters retired with Ferry's double to center that led off the seventh, and that started a rally that wound up being just a couple big hits short in the end.  Townsend followed with a walk, chasing Lusnia from the circle in a 4-0 game with two on and no outs, but the Owls kept pushing against Seretis.  Cerretani singled down the right field line with one down to spoil the shutout, and Miller subsequently reached on an error by second baseman Kaylee DelosSantos to make it 4-2 and leave the tying runs on base.  They moved into scoring position and the go-ahead tally reached first as Kalle Halvorsen followed with a one-out single to set up the top of the order, but a pair of swinging strikeouts dashed KSC's hopes.  The Owls overall struck out eight times on the day, three times against Seretis in the seventh, who got the save despite allowing a pair of hits.  Lusnia (3-0) wound up allowing two runs and three hits over six-plus innings, walking one and striking out five.

"In the second game we came out fighting," said Fisk Hennessey.  "Carissa and Mia combined time in the circle.  It took us some time to get our hits in a row.  It was an exciting seventh inning.  Mia and Hayley had quality extra-base hits on the day.  We are young and are trusting our process."

Miller (0-5) took the loss, allowing four runs and five hits in two innings while striking out four.

Townsend finished 1-for-2 with a walk at the plate for KSC, while Ferry doubled and three others had singles.

Cosentino finished 3-for-3 with the bat to pace Montclair, while Mullen was 1-for-2 with a double and a pair of RBI.  The Red Hawks outhit the Owls 8-5.

Around the Horn

• Cerretani finished 3-for-6 on the day and is currently riding a six-game hitting streak.  She is hitting .424 (14-for-33) on the season with six RBI and a .926 OPS.
• Demmy's ERA currently sits at 1.93 for the season and she has 23 strikeouts in 25.1 innings while holding opponents to a .255 average.
• KSC has lost eight straight in the series, all at MSU Stadium and all since 2018.

Up Next

• The Owls travel to face Springfield College (11-3) on Wednesday, March 29 for a doubleheader that starts at 3:00 p.m.  The Pride won their first six before a loss to Simpson College, and then won three more before being swept in a pair at Eastern Connecticut State University.  They beat Worcester State University 4-2 and 9-2 at home today.
• Montclair State visits Stevens Institute of Technology (8-8) on Tuesday (March 28) for two starting at 3:00 p.m.