Scranton, PA (04/27/04) - Senior pitcher Sarah Rhodes (Short Hills, N.J./Millburn) earned her 10th win of the season by scattering four hits and senior Megan Wasilik (Harrison, N.Y./School of the Holy Child) hit her team-leading fifth home run of the season to lead The University of Scranton to a 4-1 victory over Montclair State University in the first game of a non-conference doubleheader at Tripp Park Tuesday afternoon.In the nightcap, sophomore pitcher ATHANASIA TOTARO (Roseland, NJ/West Essex) tossed a one-hitter and struck out six to lead Montclair State to an 8-0 victory in six innings (called due to darkness).

Scranton jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning in the first game, as the Royals loaded the bases on a double by senior Jennifer Miller (Jersey Shore, Pa./Jersey Shore) and singles by Allison Schmidt (Scranton, Pa./Scranton) and Tracy Granozio (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool). Junior catcher Rebecca Devlin (Newtown Square, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) delivered the big blow with a double to left field that drove in two runs. Devlin's double was her second of the season. The Red Hawks cut the lead to 2-1 with an unearned run in the top of the third inning. JOELLE FATA (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) reached on an error, advanced to second on a wild pitch and third on a single to center field by DIANA AUTERI (Lyndhurst, N.J./St. Mary's), before scoring on a sacrifice fly to center field by KARI MCDONNELL (Wrightstown, N.J./Northern Burlington). Rhodes, who struck out seven batters, limited Montclair State to just one hit after the third inning. She earned her 36th career victory, which is one shy of tying Sue Moore's (1981-1984) University of Scranton all-time record of 37 wins.

In the second game, the Red Hawks took control early, scoring two runs with two outs in the top of the first inning, as junior outfielder MEGAN SWEENEY (Edison, N.J./Edison) drove in two runs with a double to right field to score McDonnell, who walked, and Auteri, who singled. After adding a run in the top of the second, Montclair State put two more on the board in the top of the fourth inning on an RBI single by Fata and took advantage of a Royal error for the other. Scranton committed another costly error in the top of the fifth, which allowed the Red Hawks to push across two more runs. Auteri finished with two hits and an RBI, and DANA SPRAGUE (N. Arlington, N.J./North Arlington) and Fata also had two hits for Montclair State, which won for the 12th time in its last 14 outings. Freshman Melanie Carnevale (Glen Ridge, N.J./Glen Ridge) broke up Totaro's bid for a no-hitter with a leadoff double in the center field in the bottom of the second inning.

The Royals, now 17-14 overall, will close out their 2004 season by hosting the Cougars of College Misericordia in a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday, April 28, beginning at 3:00 p.m. at Tripp Park. MSU (28-8 overall) faces Rowan University in the first round of the 2004 NJAC Tournament this Thursday at 3:30 p.m. at Ramapo College in Mahwah, NJ.