Mahwah, NJ (04/14/03) - The Montclair State softball team, playing for the first time in eight days due to the inclement weather last week in the Northeast, returned to action today at Ramapo College in an New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader. The host Roadrunners swept the Red Hawks, 1-0 and 4-0, to drop Montclair State to 18-4 overall and 3-3 in league play.

MSU, which has lost three games in a row for the first time in over a year, also suffered its first shutout losses of the 2003 campaign while being limited to just three hits total on the afternoon, including one hit in Game Two. Sophomore 2B NICOLE PACICCO (Tinton Falls, NJ) went 2-for-5 on the day for the Red Hawks, while 3B KARI McDONNELL (Wrightstown, NJ) doubled in the opener. Junior pitcher CRYSTAL SWEENEY (Edison, NJ) took the loss in the first game despite throwing four strikeouts in falling to 11-2 on the year. Freshman ATHANASIA TOTARO (Roseland, NJ) fell to 4-1 this spring, taking the loss in the nightcap. Ramapo pounded out 17 hits on the afternoon, including 11 in the second game, while collecting five doubles in all.

The Red Hawks return to action tomorrow against visiting Rutgers-Newark on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. at Quarry Field, the beginning of an eight-game homestand. MSU last played at home in topping New Jersey City, 17-3, back on April 4.