Montclair, NJ (3/30/04) - Montclair State University and Richard Stockton College split a New Jersey Athletic Conference softball doubleheader today at MSU Softball Stadium as the host Red Hawks used a four-run sixth inning to win the opener, 5-1, while the visiting Ospreys tallied both their runs in the fourth inning of the nightcap for a 2-1 victory.

Montclair State is now 13-3 overall and 4-2 in NJAC games, while Stockton improves to 10-6-1 on the year and 1-3 in the conference. Montclair is also 2-2 this year at its new home.

MSU broke a 1-1 tie in the first game in the sixth inning using two hits and four walks. The Red Hawks loaded the bases on three walks, and then took a 2-1 lead as freshman catcher MEGAN TANTUM (Ewing, NJ/Ewing) walked to score junior outfielder MEGAN SWEENEY (Edison, NJ/Edison). Senior pinch-hitter ALLISON KREISS (Lakewood, NJ/Lakewood) then singled through the left side for her first career RBI as freshman pinch-runner JESSICA MURPHY (Livingston, NJ/Livingston) came home to make it 3-1, and then senior shortstop DIANA AUTERI (Lyndhurst, NJ/St. Mary's) singled to right field with two outs to score the last two MSU runs.

Senior pitcher CRYSTAL SWEENEY ((Edison, NJ/Edison) improved to 8-2 on the year for Montclair, walking two batters and striking out eight while surrendering four hits and an unearned run. Senior hurler Lauren Genovese (East Brunswick, NJ/E. Brunswick) fell to 4-3 for Stockton this year after allowing four runs and three hits in 5.1 innings with five walks and six strikeouts.

MSU took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning in Game Two as Tantum homered off the top of the center field wall for her second career homer and her first at MSU Softball Stadium.

The lead held up until Stockton scored twice in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases on a single and two walks. Junior pinch-hitter Christin Carpani (Millville, NJ/Sacred Heart) then singled to right field to score freshman Barbara Kutch (Mt. Holly, NJ/Rancocas Valley) and sophomore outfielder Sara Henry (Edison, NJ/Edison) for all the runs RSC would need.

Junior lefthander Constance DeSalvo (Bridgeton, NJ/Sacred Heart) picked up the win for the Ospreys, improving to 6-1 on two walks and four strikeouts over seven innings. Sophomore thrower ATHANASIA TOTARO (Roseland, NJ/West Essex) took the loss for MSU, falling to 5-1 this spring despite throwing five strikeouts with five hits and three walks allowed.

Montclair visits William Paterson this coming Tuesday, while Stockton visits The College of New Jersey that same day.