Jersey City, NJ (3/30/04) - Senior right-hander CRYSTAL SWEENEY (Edison, NJ/Edison) struck out seven en route to recording the fourth perfect game in Montclair State University softball history in the same game that the #13-ranked Red Hawks collected their 800th victory in program annals, in defeating New Jersey City University, 9-0, in six innings, in game one of a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex.

MSU also won the nightcap, 11-3, in five innings, via the eight-run rule. MSU, ranked No. 13 in the pre-season National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll, improves to 12-2 overall and 3-1 in the NJAC with the pair of wins. The Gothic Knights, after beginning the year at 5-3, have dropped five straight to fall to 5-8 and 0-4 NJAC.

For MSU, which began its program in 1966, the 800th win is an important milestone in its 39-year history. All-time, MSU is 801-356-2 after Tuesday's wins.

In the opening game, Sweeney (7-2) retired all 18 batters she faced in the six innings of work, fanning seven, forcing eight to fly out, and setting down three via groundouts. It was the fourth perfect game in MSU history, and the first since Lois Fyfe accomplished the feat against Rutgers-Camden on April 24, 1990. It was also the 21st no-hitter in Red Hawks history and the second in as many years.

MSU scored twice in the second inning and two more in the fifth for a 4-0 lead before tacking on five runs in the sixth, thanks to two NJCU errors. MSU finished with nine hits. Junior third baseman KARI MCDONNELL (Wrightstown, NJ/Northern Burlington) went 2-for-4 in the game with one run and one RBI, and freshman catcher MEGAN TANTUM (Ewing, NJ/Ewing) scored twice in a 2-for-2 showing.

Sophomore right fielder TIFFANY ACIZ (Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus) also scored twice, including a steal of home, and finished with two steals for the game. Junior center fielder JOELLE FATA (Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) was 1-for-2 with an RBI single in the second inning that gave the Hawks all the offense they would need.

In the nightcap, McDonnell went 2-for-3 with five RBIs, including a two-run single down the left field line in the bottom of the first inning, and a game-ending three-run homerun to left in the bottom of the fifth to enforce the eight-run rule. It was her fourth homer of the year.

Sophomore pitcher ATHANASIA TOTARO (Roseland, NJ/West Essex) aided her own cause with four RBIs and three runs in a 1-for-4 showing as MSU prevailed in five innings, 11-3. Totaro improved her ledger to 5-0 on the year, allowing three runs (two earned) and three hits in five innings, with four strikeouts.

Fata finished 2-for-3 with two runs in the game, while senior shortstop DIANA AUTERI (Lyndhurst, NJ/St. Mary's) was 3-for-4 with two runs scored.