Little Falls, NJ (04/21/03) - The Montclair State University softball team, ranked seventh nationally in NCAA Division III, improved to 25-5 overall and 8-4 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference with today's two-step sweep of visiting William Paterson University at Quarry Field. The Red Hawks defeated the Lady Pioneers, 1-0, in eight innings in the opener, and then used a six-run first inning to claim the nightcap, 6-2. MSU Head Coach ANITA KUBICKA collected her 400th career win in today's second victory, and is now 400-157-1 in 13 seasons in Upper Montclair. WPU dropped to 17-8 on the year and 8-4 in the NJAC with today's setbacks.

MSU and WPU batted through seven scoreless innings in Game One before Montclair loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth inning. Junior shortstop DIANA AUTERI (Lyndhurst, NJ) was placed on second base via NJAC tiebreaker rules, and advanced to third when sophomore 2B NICOLE PACICCO (Tinton Falls, NJ) reached first base on an error. Sophomore 3B KARI McDONNELL (Wrightstown, NJ) was intentionally walked to load the bases, and Auteri came home when freshman 1B ATHANASIA TOTARO (Roseland, NJ) singled to short. Junior pitcher CRYSTAL SWEENEY (Edison, NJ) improved to 14-3 with the victory, allowing just five hits and one walk while striking out five WPU batters over eight innings. Freshman JENNIFER SCOTT (Ephraim, NJ) took the loss (3-3) for the Lady Pioneers despite a five-hit, six-strikeout performance as Montclair defeated Paterson for the first time since 2000.

MSU then used six hits in the first inning of the rematch and never looked back. Sophomore outfielder MEGAN SWEENEY (Edison, NJ) drove in two runs with a double to right field and also scored, while Auteri and sophomore right fielder JOELLE FATA (Bloomfield, NJ) both finished 2-for-3, with Fata also batting in a run and going 3-for-6 on the day. MSU freshman pitcher KERRY LEE (Florence, NJ), last week's NJAC Rookie Pitcher of the Week, improved to 7-1 after striking out two and walking three over 4.4 innings before giving way to Sweeney for the remainder of the game. Senior SAM KSZEPKA (New Egypt, NJ) lasted just 1/3 inning in her first defeat of the spring, while senior catcher MORGAN DUNLAP (Jefferson Township, NJ) was 1-for-2 with two RBIs. .