Glassboro, NJ (4/27/03) -- Junior first baseman DANA SPRAGUE (North Arlington, NJ/North Arlington) doubled home two runs and senior catcher TONYA BARNES (Mechanicsville, VA/Atlee) added an RBI single as Montclair State, ranked seventh in Division III, scored three times in the bottom of the sixth inning to defeat Rowan University, 4-3, and earn a split of its NJAC doubleheader on Sunday. The Profs won the first game, 2-1.

The split helped Montclair State (30-6, 11-5 NJAC) inch closer to a berth in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament, which begins on Thursday, May 1st. The split also gave MSU its 30th win of the season, the fifth consecutive year Montclair has won 30 or more games.

Trailing 3-1, the Red Hawks began their rally as KARI MCDONNELL (Wrightstown, NJ/Northern Burlington) drew a one-out walk and moved to third as relief pitcher ATHANASIA TOTARO (Roseland, NJ/West Essex) doubled to center. Sprague then tied the game with a two-run double to center as McDonnell as pinch-runner ALLISON KREISS (Lakewood, NJ/Lakewood) scored. Colleen Oswald (Turnersville, NJ/Paulsboro) relieved Julie Undercuffler (Sicklerville, NJ/Clearview Regional) and Barnes lined a single down the left-field line to score pinch-runner Val Tauriello (Newark, NJ/Bloomfield Tech) with the go-ahead run.

Totaro (6-1), who came in relief in the fifth inning, picked up the win. She allowed just one hit and one unearned run, walking two and striking out one. Totaro retired the final seven batters she faced. Undercuffler (7-6) took the loss. The lefhander allowed four runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Rowan had taken a 2-0 lead in the fourth as Sherri Cate (Cliffwood, NJ/Matawan Regional) doubled home a run against MSU starter CRYSTAL SWEENEY (Edison, NJ/Edison) and Laura Doyle (Atco, NJ/Bishop Eustace) delivered an RBI single. MSU got a run back in the bottom of the fourth as Barnes lined a single to score McDonnell, who was hit by a pitch to open the inning.

The Profs (19-15, 10-8 NJAC) extended the lead to 3-1 in the fifth as Lisa Schmied (Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley) walked with two outs, moved to second on a passed ball and scored when Nicole Panikiewsky (Carteret, NJ/Bishop Ahr) ripped a double down the left field line.

In the opener, Oswald (5-1) scattered six hits as Rowan overcame a 1-0 deficit in the fifth with two runs.

Rowan opened the inning with two hits and after a force out, Schmied drew a walk to load the bases. Panikiewsky then belted a two-run double to give the Profs the lead. Rowan had a chance to extend the lead, but STEPHANIE ROMANKO (North Brunswick, NJ/North Brunswick) made a diving catch on Jennifer Berenato's (Williamstown, NJ/Buena Regional) liner and doubled off the runner at third to end the inning.

In the top of the seventh, Montclair put the tying run on as Barnes doubled to lead off the frame. However, the runner was stranded there as Oswald fanned the next two hitters and got DIANA AUTERI (Lyndhurst, NJ/St. Mary's) to line out to end the game.

Oswald struck out six and walked just one. Sweeney (16-4) took the loss despite allowing six hits. The righander fanned four and walked two.

Sprague had two of MSU's six hits in the contest.