Upper Montclair, NJ (4/27/02) - The Montclair State University softball team today split a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader with Ramapo College at MSU's Quarry Field. The visiting Roadrunners took the opener, 1-0, while the host Red Hawks rebounded in the nightcap, 3-2, in eight innings.

Montclair is now 27-11 overall and finished 12-6 in the NJAC for the second consecutive season.

Ramapo and the College of New Jersey edged out MSU for the final two berths in the 2002 NJAC Tournament, winning on tiebreakers as all three teams finished at 12-6 in conference play. William Paterson University won the conference and will host next weekend's tournament, which will also include Rowan University.

MSU is still hopeful of earning its third straight berth in the ECAC Division III South tournament, won by the Red Hawks the last two years.

Ramapo sophomore centerfielder SHELLIE GUILDER (Jefferson, NJ) scored the only run of the opening contest in the top of the sixth inning as the Roadrunners won their fourth straight outing and avenged a sweep by MSU last year in Mahwah, NJ, that sent Montclair to last season's NJAC Tournament. Ramapo sophomore pitcher JAMIE ANZALDI (Clifton, NJ) improved to 18-3 on the year by allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out four batters over seven shutout innings. MSU senior pitcher TARA TODARO (Lodi, NJ) fell to 12-6 this season after scattering three hits, five walks, three strikeouts, and one unearned run. MSU sophomore shortstop DIANA AUTERI (Lyndhurst, NJ) tripled to left centerfield with one out in the sixth inning, but her teammates were unable to bring her home.

Montclair took a 2-0 lead in the first inning of Game Two, only to see the Roadrunners tie the game on single scores in the second and fourth innings. The score remained unchanged until MSU senior infielder TARA GIALANELLA (Long Valley, NJ) singled up the middle with two outs to score freshman infielder KARI McDONNELL (Wrightstown, NJ) from third base. Sophomore pitcher CRYSTAL SWEENEY (Edison, NJ) improved to 15-5 for the Red Hawks, fanning five batters while scattering seven hits. Sophomore VALERIE MALFI (Mays Landing, NJ) fell to 5-8 for Ramapo, striking out four and walking three with five hits.