Little Falls, NJ (03/23/03) - The Montclair State University softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with SUNY Cortland today at MSU's Quarry Field to complete the 2003 Montclair State/Kean Softball Classic.

The visiting Red Dragons rebounded from a four-run deficit to take Game One, 8-7, in eight innings and end MSU's 11-game winning streak that dated back to March 9. The host Red Hawks then scored three times in the bottom of the sixth inning of Game Two en route to a 3-2 victory, MSU's 16th in 17 outings dating back to last season.

Montclair now stands 12-1 overall this year, while Cortland is 12-2 overall.

Montclair took a 5-1 lead into the seventh inning in the opener before Cortland erupted for four runs on two hits and one MSU error to tie the game. The Red Dragons then added three more runs in the eighth inning, using one hit and another MSU error.

Montclair tied a nine-year-old school record for home runs in a game with four, as junior DIANA AUTERI (Lyndhurst, NJ) and sophomores NICOLE PACICCO (Tinton Falls, NJ) and KARI McDONNELL (Wrightstown, NJ) all launched two-run homers, while freshman ATHANASIA TOTARO (Roseland, NJ) hit a solo shot. Pacicco and Totaro hit their first career MSU home runs, while McDonnell homered in the bottom of the eighth inning with one out to pull MSU within 8-7.

Junior pitcher CRYSTAL SWEENEY (Edison, NJ) fell to 6-1 on the season after scattering eight hits and four earned runs while walking two batters and striking out four. SUNY freshman STEPHANIE ADAMSHICK (Milton, NY) improved to 5-0 after walking two and fanning three amongst five hits and four earned runs.

Freshman outfielder JENNIFER ROCKWELL (Scotia, NY) and senior shortstop JULIE GENTNER (Williamsville, NY) both went 2-for-5 and scored a run for the Red Dragons, with Rockwell batting in three runs and Gentner driving in two. Cortland also topped MSU, 8-2, last year in Little Falls, while Montclair won, 5-4, in an April 2001 meeting.

Cortland scored twice in the top of the fourth inning of the rematch to break open a scoreless contest, before Montclair responded with three runs in the bottom of the sixth on four hits to gain the series split. Pacicco went 2-for-3 with a run for MSU, while Totaro was 2-for-3 with an RBI and picked up her third win this year with four strikeouts and just four hits allowed over six innings. Freshman KERRY LEE (Florence, NJ) pitched the seventh inning, striking out one with no hits or walks in earning her first career save.

Rockwell finished 2-for-3 with one run for the Red Dragons, while freshman MARIA McFEELY (Hamburg, NY) took the loss (4-2) on seven hits and three earned runs with two walks and five strikeouts in seven innings pitched.

MSU returns to action on Wednesday, March 26, at Quarry Field when it hosts Scranton (PA) for two games beginning at 3:00 p.m. The Red Hawks swept the Royals, 5-2 and 11-0, last April in Pennsylvania.