Staten Island, NY (4/12/05) - Sophomore catcher
MEGAN TANTUM batted 3-for-3 with two RBIs in Montclair State University's 2-2 tie tonight at the College of Staten Island in the second game of a non-conference softball doubleheader.
Montclair State (15-5-1), which played to its first tie since 2000, won the first game today, 8-6, and is now unbeaten in its last five outings.
Tantum singled home freshman pinch-runner
KIM FLYNN in the top of the second inning and did likewise with freshman pinch-runner
ZAIRY RAMOS in the top of the sixth frame for a 2-0 MSU lead. The host Dolphins, though, scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to force the tie, with the game then called after the seventh inning due to darkness.
It was just the third tie in MSU's history dating back to 1966, and its first since the 2000 campaign.
Montclair State freshman pitcher
CAROLYN MCCREA went the distance for the Red Hawks in striking out nine batters against six hits, two earned runs and one walk. Sophomore hurler Christina D'Arpa allowed just six MSU hits and one earned run over seven innings while striking out five batters and walking none. She also went 1-for-3 on offense for the Dolphins with one run scored and another batted in.
MSU raced to a 5-0 lead after two innings in today's opening game and increased its advantage to 8-1 after five innings before holding on for a two-run victory, the Red Hawks' fourth consecutive win dating back to April 7. Senior 2B
NICOLE PACICCO was 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and senior 3B
KARI MCDONNELL was 2-for-3 with three RBIs for Montclair State, which got 5.1 innings work with six strikeouts from junior pitcher
ATHANASIA TOTARO, who walked no CSI batters and allowed just three hits and one earned run on the day in improving to 9-3 on the year. She also returned to the game late in the seventh inning to record the final out, as CSI (10-8-1) scored twice in the sixth session and three times in the seventh frame to close to within 8-6, with two outs and two runners on.
Freshman pitcher Katie Rossetti took the loss for the Dolphins with eight hits and seven runs allowed (two earned) in 3.1 innings, while CSI senior outfielder Theresa Tepedino finished 3-for-4 at the plate with five RBIs and two runs scored.
The Red Hawks return to New Jersey Athletic Conference action on Saturday when they host the College of New Jersey at the MSU Softball Stadium at 1:00 p.m. MSU is 2-4 in NJAC play to date, with wins in its last two conference contests.
