Fort Myers, FL (3/13/05) - The Montclair State softball team improved to 4-0 on the season as the Red Hawks swept a pair of games at the Gene Cusic Classic held at Lee County Park on Sunday afternoon/evening.

MSU edged Dickinson, 1-0 behind a two-hit shutout from ATHANASIA TOTARO in the first game. Senior second baseman NICOLE PACICCO then drove in all three runs as Montclair defeated Defiance (OH), 3-1.

In the win over Dickinson (0-2), MSU snapped a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth as WHITNEY DRIVER singled to lead off the inning. Pinch-runner ZAIRY RAMOS then stole second and raced home as JOELLE FATA slapped a single up-the-middle for the game's only run.

Totaro (2-0) made the lead hold up as she struck out nine and walked two while yielding only two singles.

Fata finished 2-for-2 as she collected two of the Red Hawks' six hits in the game.

In the second game, MSU got off to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as Totaro led off the game with a triple and scored as Pacicco smacked a single to left field. Montclair extended the lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth as Fata singled to start the inning and stole second. Pacicco then launched a two-run homer, her second in as many days, to left field for the three-run cushion.

DANA WARNOCK picked up the win as she improved to 2-0. Warnock pitched the first 6 1/3 innings allowing seven hits, striking out five and walking one. Totaro came on to to get the final two outs to earn her first save of the season..

Montclair State is now off until Tuesday, March 15 as the Red Hawks will play two more in the 10-game appearance. The Red Hawks will face Wisconsin-Oshkosh at 9:00 am and meet Cazenovia (NY) at 11:00 am.