Little Falls, NJ (05/15/02) -- The Montclair State University softball team finished the 2002 campaign the way it had the previous two seasons - as ECAC Division III South champions. The host and top-seeded Red Hawks defeated third-seeded Drew University today, 4-1, at MSU's Quarry Field in a game that had been postponed since Sunday due to inclement weather.

Montclair finished at 30-11 overall after winning all three of its ECAC tournament games, and has now won at least 30 games in a season for four straight years. Drew went 2-2 this extended weekend, and finished 30-16-1 overall this spring.

Montclair State scored twice in the top of the third inning today to take a 2-0 lead, before Drew cut the lead in half in the bottom of the same inning. MSU then added insurance runs in the fourth and sixth frames to claim its third straight ECAC South crown. MSU sophomore shortstop DIANA AUTERI (Lyndhurst, NJ) batted 3-for-4, scoring one run and driving in another, as freshman 3B KARI McDONNELL (Wrightstown, NJ) went 1-for-3 with two RBIs, including a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning. Freshman left fielder MEGAN SWEENEY (Edison, NJ) finished 3-for-4 with one RBI, and hit 7-for-12 (.583) with five RBIs in three tournament games to earn 2002 ECAC South Most Valuable Player honors.

Drew freshman 3B SHANNA PERAS (Centereach, NY) batted 1-for-3 for the Rangers today and scored their only run. Junior pitcher ERICA MEHALICK (Nutley, NJ) took the loss for Drew, falling to 13-10 this year after surrendering three hits and three runs in three innings.

MSU senior pitcher TARA TODARO (Lodi, NJ) completed her Red Hawk career by allowing just four hits and one run while striking out seven batters on the afternoon. She finished with a 13-6 mark and a career-high 157 strikeouts this spring, and a 41-15 ledger with 339 Ks in four years.