UNION, N.J. (4/21/11) – Montclair State University swept a New Jersey Athletic Conference softball doubleheader from host Kean University on Thursday afternoon, as the Red Hawks recorded the 9-0 shutout in the opener and a 7-1 win in the nightcap. 

Rookie Alex Hill tossed a five-inning no-hitter in the opener for the conference-leading Red Hawks (22-5, 10-1 NJAC).  For the Cougars (9-19, 7-5 NJAC), sophomore Katie Schuh and freshman Kelly Moorehead each had two hits on the afternoon.

GAME ONE:  Hill Strikes Out Seven in Five-Inning No-Hitter

Hill allowed just two walks and recorded seven strike-outs, as the Red Hawks had an eight-run fourth inning to win the opener, 9-0, in five innings.

The Red Hawks took the 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, as they capitalized on a bases-loaded walk to first baseman Alisha Cumberton.

Montclair State broke open the game in the top of the fourth when they plated eight runs on six hits and two Cougar errors.  Catcher Heather Bergman and Hill had back-to-back doubles in the inning, as Bergman drove in a pair of runs and Hill followed to score Bergman, before she scored the final run of the inning on a RBI single by right fielder Stephanie Szeliga.

Muglia finished 3-of-4 with two runs scored and one RBI, while Cumberton and Bergman each drove in a pair of runs.

For the Cougars, shortstop Alicia Banz and centerfielder Lindsay Kennedy (pictured left) each walked.

GAME TWO: Red Hawks Jump out to Early Lead for 7-1 Win

The Red Hawks scored six times in the first inning and right-hander Jamie Miller earned the complete-game victory with the 7-1 win. 

In the bottom of the first inning, the first nine batters reached base for the Red Hawks, as they took advantage of four hits, four walks, a pair of wild pitches and an error in the inning to take the 6-0 lead.  Sophomore Kelly O'Brien had a bases-loaded RBI single and Bergman followed with a two-run double en-route to the early six-run lead. 

The Cougars got a run back in the top of the third inning when Kennedy scored on a passed ball, however Montclair State added another run on the board in the bottom half of the inning when junior left fielder Shannon Mozek scored on the wild pitch.

Miller scattered five hits and one walk with five strikeouts in the win, while Bergman was 2-of-3 with two RBI and one run scored.

For the Cougars, Schuh and Moorehead each had a pair of hits.  Rookie Rebecca Rotola (pictured right) scattered four hits and one unearned run in five innings of relief. 

The Cougars now host Rowan University in a NJAC doubleheader on Friday, April 22, at 2 p.m.