Mahwah, NJ (04/30/04) - The Montclair State softball team's bid for a New Jersey Athletic Conference championship came to an end on Friday afternoon as the third-seeded Red Hawks were eliminated from the conference tournament with a pair of 2-1 losses to fourth-seeded Rutgers-Camden and top-seeded Ramapo, respectively.

The losses dropped Montclair State's record to 29-10 and put a serious dent in the MSU's bid for spot in the NCAA Division III Softball Championships. Bids will be announced on Sunday.

Montclair State, which defeated Rutgers-Camden twice back on April 17, fell behind 2-0 as the Scarlet Raptors (31-8) scored a run in the third and fourth innings. Celeste Chinappi (Bellmawr, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) singled with one out in the third and moved to second on an error. She then came around to score as Mo Baney (Deptford, NJ/Deptford) line a double just out of the reach of centerfielder JOELLE FATA (Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield). The Scarlet Raptors increases the lead the following inning as Chinappi laid down a perfect bunt with two outs scoring Tara Fisher (Upper Deerfield, NJ/Cumberland Regional).

Montclair would climb back in the bottom of the fifth as Fata and DIANA AUTERI (Lyndhurst, NJ/St. Mary's), who went 3-for-3, singled with two outs. ATHANASIA TOTARO (Roseland, NJ/West Essex) then line a double to score Fata, cutting the lead to 2-1, however, Auteri was gunned down at the plate leaving MSU trailing.

The Red Hawks put the tying run aboard in the seventh as NICOLE PACICCO (TInton Falls, NJ/Monmouth Regional) singled with one out before being replaced by pinch runner TIFFANY ACIZ (Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus). Aciz moved to second on a ground out and stole third, but was stranded there as Michelle Schlichtig (Barrington, NJ/Haddon Heights) fanned Fata to end the game.

Schlitig picked up the win as she improved to 19-5. She allowed six hits, struck out six and walked one. CRYSTAL SWEENEY (Edison, NJ/Edison) took the loss as she allowed two runs (one earned) and five hits in 4 1/3 innings. Sweeney (16-6) struck out three and walked three.

In the elimination game, Montclair once again fell behind 2-0 in the third as Ramapo's Michele Rossi (Emerson, NJ/Emerson) doubled home run and Elizabeth Choma (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) singled home Rossi.

Like in the previous game, MSU put together a rally in the seventh as pinch-hitter DIANNA PETRONACI (Brick, NJ/Bick Township) singled to leadoff the inning. Petronaci was removed for Fata as a pinch runner who then moved second and scored as DANA SPRAGUE (North Arlington, NJ/North Arlington) single to centerfield bringing the Red Hawks within 2-1. But pitcher Jamie Anzaldi (Clifton, NJ/Clifton) got MEGAN SWEENEY (Edison, NJ/Edison) to fly out to end the game.

CRYSTAL SWEENEY suffered her second loss on the day as she fell to 16-7. Anzaldi (18-3) allowed eight hits with four strikeouts and three walks.

Totaro, who pitched the final 3 2/3 innings of the game surrendered two hits with a strikeout and three walks. Totaro pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief in the previous game, fanning four and walking two.