Ewing, NJ (04/23/02) - The Montclair State University softball team split a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader at The College of New Jersey on Tuesday. The host Lions won the opener, 7-6, ending a 12-game MSU winning streak that dated back to April 10. The Red Hawks rebounded in the nightcap, scoring five runs in the third inning en route to an 8-4 triumph.

Montclair is now 26-10 overall and 11-5 in NJAC play, and remains one game ahead of the Lions (25-11, 10-6) in the conference standings. MSU has now won 13 of its last 14 games overall, and has also won three of its last five meetings with TCNJ.

Montclair sophomore shortstop DIANA AUTERI (Lyndhurst, NJ) paced the Red Hawk attack in Game One by batting 3-for-4 with four RBIs, including a double, and triple, and her first career home run. Montclair scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 6-4 lead, but TCNJ responded with four hits and three runs of its own in the bottom of that frame to take the win.

TCNJ senior pitcher MANDY SCHENCK struck out seven MSU batters in 6.1 innings and went 3-for-3 at the plate with a double and RBI, while MANDY BOWEN (8-3) picked up the win, striking out two batters in two-thirds of an inning. MSU senior pitcher

TARA TODARO (Lodi, NJ) took the loss, falling to 12-5 on the year after walking four hitters and fanning two.

TCNJ jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning of the rematch, but MSU cut the deficit to one on a two-run home run by freshman infielder KARI McDONNELL (Wrightstown, NJ), her 11th homer of the campaign. MSU went ahead for good with five runs in the third inning, including three consecutive walks with the bases loaded. McDonnell finished 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBIs in the nightcap, while Auteri was 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI.

Sophomore CRYSTAL SWEENEY (Edison, NJ) gained the victory, walking one and striking out two en route to improving to 14-5 on the year. She also batted 2-for-3 in the first contest. Starter VICKIE PREVETE took the loss for TCNJ, allowing five hits and seven runs in 2.1 innings.