Mahwah, NJ (5/2/03) --The Montclair State University softball team, ranked seventh nationally in NCAA Division III, advanced to the title game of the 2003 NJAC Championships with a 7-2 victory today over top-seeded host Ramapo. Third-seeded Montclair State hit two home runs and scored six runs in all in the fifth inning following a hour-long rain delay, and then added another run in the sixth stanza to snap Ramapo's 27-game winning streak that dated back to March 26. The Red Hawks (33-7) will now face either Ramapo or William Paterson tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. for the championship and an automatic berth into the 2003 NCAA Division III Softball Tournament.

The Red Hawks trailed, 2-0, after four full innings when heavy rain forced a delay. Ramapo took a 1-0 lead in the 2nd inning when JACKIE MORRIS (Wanaque, NJ) reached on an error that scored LAURA GERMANO (Park Ridge, NJ) who singled to get on base. The team posted a second run in the 4th when JAMIE ANZALDI (Clifton, NJ) doubled to left field scoring Germano, who had doubled, once again.

MSU loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth frame on two walks and a single when play resumed, and got on the board when sophomore 3B KARI McDONNELL (Wrightstown, NJ) was hit by a pitch, scoring junior center fielder STEPHANIE ROMANKO (N. Brunswick, NJ). Freshman DP ATHANASIA TOTARO (Roseland, NJ) then recorded her second grand slam of the year, blasting a pitch over the left field wall to put Montclair up, 5-2. Junior 1B DANA SPRAGUE (N. Arlington, NJ) then sent a solo shot over the fence in left center for her second homer in two games and a 6-2 MSU advantage. The Red Hawks then added a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the sixth for their seventh run of the afternoon.

MSU junior pitcher CRYSTAL SWEENEY (Edison, NJ) improved to 19-4 this season after allowing six hits and one earned run while walking none and striking out four. Anzaldi suffered her first loss of the season, falling to 16-1 in surrendering just four hits and eight walks. Ramapo (32-4) will face third-seeded William Paterson (24-10-1), a 3-1 winner over Rutgers-Camden earlier today in the double-elimination tournament, at noon tomorrow for the right to face MSU at 3:00 p.m. for the conference crown. A second, tiebreaking championship game, if needed, will follow after the first game.