Fort Myers, FL (03/09/03) - The Montclair State softball team opened its 2003 campaign with a pair of wins in the Gene Cusic Classic on Sunday afternoon. The Red Hawks began their 10-game schedule with an 8-0 win over Cazenovia (NY) in the first game and then came back to edge Defiance (OH) College in the nightcap.

Against Cazenovia, MSU scored three runs in the first inning and added two more runs in the third before recording three final scores in the fourth frame. The win was Montclair's fifth consecutive win dating back to last season, when the Red Hawks claimed their third consecutive ECAC Division III South crown.

Senior catcher TONYA BARNES (Mechanicsville, VA) led MSU offensively with two doubles, three runs and three RBIs, while sophomore 3B KARI McDONNELL (Wrightstown, NJ) tied her own school record by drawing four walks. McDonnell also scored two runs for the Red Hawks, as did sophomore 2B NICOLE PACCICCO (Tinton Falls, NJ), while freshman 1B ATHANASIA TOTARO (Roseland, NJ) drove in two runs. Junior pitcher CRYSTAL SWEENEY (Edison, NJ) notched her 33rd career win, 30th complete game and 12th career shutout by allowing just two hits over five innings, walking just one Cazenovia batter while striking out nine.

Montclair then made it a perfect day as the posted a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Defiance (OH). MSU had blanked Defiance, 8-0, last March in Fort Myers.

The Yellowjackets took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when shortstop CHRIS MOREO (Delphos, OH) bunted, stole second base, reached third on an error, and finally came home on a single by junior outfielder KRISTIN ORT (Defiance, OH).

The Red Hawks tied the game in the bottom of the third when senior outfielder VALERIE TAURIELLO (Newark, NJ) bunted, reached second on a groundout and then went to third on a play at the plate before finally scoring on a wild pitch. Sophomore outfielder MEGAN SWEENEY (Edison, NJ) plated the winning run in the bottom of the fourth, driving a single through the left side before eventually scoring on a double to right field by senior outfielder STEPHANIE ROMANKO (North Brunswick, NJ).

Freshman Totaro garnered her first career MSU victory by scattering five hits and six strikeouts over 4.2 innings. CRYSTAL SWEENEY picked up her third career save in working the final 2.1 innings, striking out one batter while allowing just two hits.