Fort Myers, FL (3/14/04) - The Montclair State softball team, ranked 13th in Division III, began its 2004 season on the right foot as the Red Hawks won a pair of one-run games at the Gene Cusic Classic on Sunday afternoon. MSU (2-0) defeated Western New England, 2-1 and then rallied to defeat Fontbonne University (WI), 7-6.

Senior righthander CRYSTAL SWEENEY (Edison, NJ/Edison) earned bot victories as she went the distance in the win over WNE. Sweeney (2-0) allowed one earned run and struck out seven before coming back in the nightcap to pitch 3 2/3 innings of hitless relief, fanning three.

The wins were the 55th and 56th in Sweeney's career, tying her with Robyn Baron (1994-96) for fourth on the all-time MSU list.

Sister MEGAN SWEENEY (Edison, NJ/Edison) went 3-for-3 and drove in both runs in the win over Western New England.

In the second game, DANA SPRAGUE (North Arlington, NJ/North Arlington) and freshman MEGAN TANTUM () each had two RBI while All-American third baseman KARI MCDONNELL (Wrightstown, NJ/No. Burlington) had two hits and an RBI.

The Red Hawks continue action in the Gene Cusic Classic on Monday as they face Cazenovia (NY) and Grinnell at 9:00 am and 11:00 am, respectively. Last year, MSU blanked Cazenovia, 8-0, behind a two-hit shutout and nine strikeouts by CRYSTAL SWEENEY.