Little Falls, NJ (03/25/03) - The Montclair State University softball team improved to 13-1 overall this season with a 3-1 victory over the University of Scranton (PA) today at Quarry Field. The second game of the Red Hawks-Royals doubleheader was called off at the top of the fourth inning due to darkness, with Montclair leading, 14-3, at the time, two innings short of making it an official game. MSU has won 17 of its last 18 outings since April 2002, while Scranton is now 0-3 so far this spring.

Scranton used two hits and a sacrifice in the top of the first inning to tally their only run of the game, scoring when junior designated player MEGAN WASILIK (Harrison, NY) singled to left center with two outs to bring home junior shortstop and leadoff hitter SHALISSA DOUGHERTY (Eynon, PA). Montclair would tie the game in the bottom of the fourth inning when freshman infielder ATHANASIA TOTARO (Roseland, NJ) homered to center field with one out. It was her second career home run for Montclair State, and her second in the last three Red Hawk games. Montclair then scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning off a Scranton throwing error to first base, allowing sophomore outfielder MEGAN SWEENEY (Edison, NJ) and Totaro to both score after both had gotten on base with singles. Sophomore NICOLE PACICCO (Tinton Falls, NJ) doubled twice for the Red Hawks.

MSU junior pitcher CRYSTAL SWEENEY improved to 7-1 this season, scattering five hits and one walk over seven innings while striking out 10 batters. Junior SARAH RHODES (Short Hills, NJ) fell to 0-2 after surrendering seven hits in six innings with one walk and one strikeout.

Montclair State is now slated to open its 2003 New Jersey Athletic Conference campaign at Ramapo College on Saturday, March 29, with a doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m. Scranton is set to visit Wilkes (PA) University tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 p.m.