Little Falls, NJ (4/10/02) - The Montclair State University softball team took on Fairleigh Dickinson-Madison today in a non-conference doubleheader at MSU's Quarry Field, and came away with a two-step sweep, winning by 5-1 and 4-0 counts. Montclair, which had lost its previous three games, is now 15-9 overall this season, while FDU drops to 9-15. The Red Hawks also topped the Devils, 4-2 and 9-2, last May in Madison.

MSU senior pitcher TARA TODARO (Lodi, NJ) struck out seven batters over the first three innings in Game One, including one in the top of the third inning with the bases loaded with two outs. Todaro finished with 10 strikeouts, four hits and two walks allowed in improving to 7-4 this season. Freshman outfielder MEGAN SWEENEY (Edison, NJ) and senior infielder TARA GIALANELLA (Long Valley, NJ) strung together back-to-back doubles to make it 4-0 MSU in the third frame, with Gialanella's hit scoring two runs. Gialanella finished 2-for-3 with the two RBIs. Sweeney also added another run in the fifth inning to make it 5-1 for Montclair. FDU freshman outfielder DANIELLE CURCIO (Stewartsville, NJ) had crossed the plate in the top of the fifth inning to get the Devils on the scoreboard.

In Game Two, the Red Hawks kept the Devils off the board in the top of the second session as FDU sophomore catcher PAOLA CARPENITO (Verona, NJ) led off with a single but was tagged out by MSU junior catcher TONYA BARNES (Mechanicsville, VA) trying to steal home with one out. Montclair made it 2-0 in the bottom of the third inning when Barnes (2-for-2) scored Gialanella from third base on a sacrifice fly to center, and then added two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on FDU throwing errors. MSU sophomore pitcher CRYSTAL SWEENEY (Edison, NJ) picked up the win, improving to 8-5 this year after walking one and striking out four in a three-hitter for 6.1 innings.