Pomona, NJ (04/06/03) - The Montclair State University softball team, ranked seventh nationally in NCAA Division III, split a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader today at host Richard Stockton College. The Red Hawks took the opener by a 5-1 count, before coming up short in the nightcap, 5-4. MSU, which had won seven consecutive contests after taking today's first game, is now 18-2 overall and 3-1 in NJAC play.

The Red Hawks jumped out a 2-0 first-inning lead in game One and never trailed en route to topping the host Ospreys for the fourth time in their last five meetings. Sophomore 3B KARI McDONNELL (Wrightstown, NJ/Burlington, NJ) went 2-for-3 at the plate and scored three runs, while classmate MEGAN SWEENEY (Edison, NJ/Edison)was 3-for-4 with two runs batted in. Junior pitcher CRYSTAL SWEENEY (Edison, NJ/Edison) allowed just four hits while striking out six batters and walking just one in improving to 11-1 on the year.

Montclair trailed Stockton, 5-1, after three-and-a-half innings in the rematch before tallying three runs in the bottom of the fourth frame, but that was as close as the Red Hawks could get in falling for the first time since an 8-7 loss to SUNY Cortland back on March 22. McDonnell finished 2-for-3 with one run, while freshman pitcher ATHANASIA TOTARO (Roseland, NJ/West Essex) suffred her first loss of the year in falling to 4-1 after surrendering three hits and three runs in two innings of work.

MSU is scheduled to play an NJAC doubleheader at Ramapo College on Monday, April 7, at 3:00 p.m.