Montclair, NJ (05/8/04) - Montclair State University took the lead on the first day of competition in the double-elimination 2004 ECAC Division III South Softball Championships at the MSU Softball Stadium.

Montclair State defeated the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford, 8-0, before Ursinus College outlasted College Misericordia, 1-0. Misericordia then rebounded to top Pitt-Bradford, 5-2, before Montclair blanked Ursinus, 2-0.

Top-seeded MSU took a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning in the opening game against fourth-seeded Pitt-Bradford, and then added two runs in both the fourth and sixth innings to close out the contest.

Sophomore designated player ATHANASIA TOTARO (Roseland, NJ) paced MSU offensively, batting 3-for-4 with three runs batted in and two doubles, while senior first base DANA SPRAGUE (N. Arlington, NJ) also went 3-for-4, with two RBIs and a double. Senior shortstop DIANA AUTERI (Lyndhurst, NJ) finished 3-for-3 with two runs, an RBI and her team-leading 17th stolen base, and senior pitcher CRYSTAL SWEENEY (Edison, NJ) improved to 18-7 for the Red Hawks, tossing her third no-hitter this spring while striking out seven Panthers and walking one.

Sophomore hurler Alison Bricker (Albion, NY/Northwestern) fell to 7-5 for Pitt-Bradford this year as MSU struck for 13 hits in winning its third straight game.

Second-seeded Ursinus scored the only run of the second game in the bottom of the third inning when senior centerfielder Denise Cook (Media, PA) walked, went to second on a sacrifice, and then scored on a single to right field by Bears freshman Mary Reid (Hatboro, PA/Hatboro Horsham). Third-seeded Misericordia loaded the bases in the top of the sixth only to strike out three straight times, and then had runners on second and third in the top of the seventh with two outs before fouling out to third to end the game.

Misericordia senior shortstop Amber Lazorka (Williamsport, PA) led all batters by going 3-for-4, while also recording five putouts and an assist on defense. Junior pitcher Erin Skinner (Burlington, NJ) improved to 19-3 for Ursinus, striking out eight and walking none, while senior Rachael Matthews (S. Williamsport, PA) fell to 13-4 for the Cougars, allowing six hits, two walks and an unearned run.

Pitt-Bradford took a 1-0 lead over Misericordia in the top of the second in their elimination game on an RBI single by junior left fielder Cassandra Walker (Towanda, PA), but Misericordia rebounded for a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third on Lazorka's two-run double to center. The Cougars then broke the game open with three runs on five hits (all singles) in the bottom of the fifth frame, with freshman catcher Jennifer Gehman (Coopersburg, PA) driving in two runs on a drive up the middle with one out. Walker finished 3-for-4 for Pitt-Bradford while Lazorka went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run for Misericordia. Sophomore pitcher Kristi Devens (Drums, PA) picked up the win for the Cougars, improving to 10-4, while freshman Kristy Zavinski (Warren, PA) fell to 12-3 for the Panthers, who were eliminated with their second loss.

Ursinus and Montclair were scoreless through five-and-a-half innings until Totaro doubled to right field to score Auteri, after Auteri had singled through the left side and stole second. Totaro then came home on a single through the right side by junior third base KARI MCDONNELL (Wrightstown, NJ) to make it a 2-0 final for the Red Hawks.

Totaro earned the win, scattering five hits and two strikeouts to go to 14-3 on the year, while sophomore Amanda Wilson (Yardville, NJ) took the loss for the Bears, falling to 10-5 despite three strikeouts.

Misericordia will face Ursinus in an elimination game on Sunday at noon, with the winner meeting MSU at about 2:00 p.m. in the ECAC Championship Game. A second championship game, if made necessary by an MSU loss in the first one, will follow at around 4:00 p.m. Montclair State has won the last four ECAC Division III South titles.