Ewing, NJ (04/10/04) - Junior pitcher Amanda Donohue (Highland Mills, NY/ Cornwall Central) struck out 17 batters and picked up both wins as The College of New Jersey swept a New Jersey Athletic Conference softball doubleheader with Montclair State University today, 4-2 and 4-3, at Armstrong Field.

TCNJ is now 18-9-1 overall and 6-4 in the NJAC, while MSU, ranked 18th in NCAA Division III, is 16-6 and 5-5 in the conference.

The Lions took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning in Game One when junior infielder Christina Venetucci (Monroe Township, NJ/Monroe Township) singled to left field and then scored on a Montclair State error. Junior infielder Siobhan Scullin (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) did likewise in the bottom of the second, singling to right center before scoring off an error for a 2-0 TCNJ advantage. Montclair loaded the bases in the top of the third off of two sacrifice bunts and an intentional walk, but then struck out twice to end the inning.

The Lions then made it a 3-0 game after three as junior outfielder Kristen Zimmerman (Oakland, NJ/Indian Hills) walked, gained second on a sacrifice and third on a TCNJ base hit and then came home off an RBI by sophomore utility player Kristin Meister (Basking Ridge, NJ/Ridge). Zimmerman then homered to left field with one out in the fifth to make it 4-0. Freshman catcher MEGAN TANTUM (Ewing, NJ/Ewing) launched a two-run home run to left field with one out in the top of the sixth to pull MSU within 4-2, but that was as close as Montclair would get in Game One.

Donohue tossed 10 strikeouts in the opener for the Lions against seven hits and three intentional walks in improving to 11-2 this spring. Senior pitcher CRYSTAL SWEENEY (Edison, NJ/Edison) surrendered seven hits and two unearned runs in falling to 9-4 this year for the Red Hawks.

TCNJ took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning of Game Two when Zimmerman doubled in a pair of runs with one out, though MSU got one back in the bottom of the first to cut its deficit in half, as Tantum singled in junior infielder KARI MCDONNELL (Wrightstown, NJ/Northern Burlington) from third. TCNJ made it 3-1 in the top of the second as freshman outfielder Kristin Boyer (Annandale, NJ/North Hunterdon) singled in junior infielder Siobhan Scullin (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West), before sophomore outfielder TIFFANY ACIZ (Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus) doubled and then scored for the Red Hawks to make it 3-2 after two.

Boyer finished 3-for-4 in the second game with a run and an RBI, while Zimmerman made it 4-2 in the top of the third after singling through the left side and eventually scoring on a single by freshman designated hitter Jessica Kohut (Hillsdale, NJ/Pasack Valley). Zimmerman finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs, a double, and a run scored.

Montclair again pulled within a run when junior outfielder JOELLE FATA (Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) singled to left with two outs in the fourth to score classmate NICOLE PACICCO (Tinton Falls, NJ/Monmouth Regional) from second, before senior infielder DANA SPRAGUE (North Arlington, NJ/North Arlington) was thrown out at the plate to end the inning and deny MSU the tie.

Donohue threw seven strikeouts with two walks in the second contest, while MSU sophomore hurler ATHANASIA TOTARO (Roseland, NJ/West Essex) fanned four batters and walked none in falling to 6-2.

The College of NJ visits Rutgers-Camden on Tuesday, April 13, while MSU drops in on Rutgers-Newark that same day, all in NJAC action. .