Little Falls, NJ (4/21/05) - Senior 3B KARI MCDONNELL (right) batted 3-for-5 and scored two runs to lead Montclair State University to a sweep of a non-conference NCAA Division III softball doubleheader with Hunter College tonight at the MSU Softball Stadium, 3-2 and 2-0.

The host Red Hawks improved to 20-6-1, their 14th straight season with 20 or more wins, while the visiting Hawks fell to 15-8 on the year. It was MSU's third win in three games against Hunter this spring, including a 1-0 victory here back on March 31.

Hunter took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning in the opener as sophomore OF Luigina Gutierrez and senior OF Shani Espinal both singled, and then went to second and third, respectively, on a sacrifice bunt by junior 2B Kari Porto. Sophomore SS Joanna Quirindongo then singled home Gutierrez with one out, before Espinal scored on sophomore catcher Tiffany Rock's double to left center.

Montclair tied the game in the bottom of the fourth frame as McDonnell and freshman 1B JACKIE FERRANTI led off with singles and senior LF MEGAN SWEENEY walked to load the bases, before MSU sophomore catcher MEGAN TANTUM singled in McDonnell to make it 2-1, and then sophomore DP DANA WARNOCK grounded out to second base but scored Ferranti to make it a 2-2 contest.

Montclair sophomore SS Crystal Dahlhaus doubled to start off the seventh, moved to third on a single by freshman pinch-hitter DANA NEVILLE, and then slid home off a Hunter passed ball with one out to give the Red Hawks their 14th non-conference win this spring as they improved to 9-2-1 in their last 12 outings overall.

MSU junior pitcher ATHANASIA TOTARO improved to 12-3 on the year, scattering five hits and two runs in seven innings while striking out six Hawk batters and walking none. Hunter College freshman Victoria Hill took the loss, surrendering six hits, three runs (two earned) and two walks while fanning a half-dozen MSU hitters in 6.1 innings work.

Montclair State gained a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first in the rematch as McDonnell was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a single up the middle by Ferranti, and then crossed the plate on Sweeney's single to right. Totaro then tripled to right field in the bottom of the fifth, and beat an errant throw at home plate for a 2-0 MSU lead and the final margin. Freshman pitcher CAROLYN MCCREA improved to 4-1 for the Red Hawks, tossing a one-hitter with three strikeouts and two walks over seven innings, while Hunter freshman hurler Allyshia West took the loss on seven hits and one earned run against four strikeouts in six frames.

MSU returns to New Jersey Athletic Conference action on Saturday when it hosts Rutgers-Camden at 1:00 p.m. The Red Hawks are 5-5 in conference play so far this year. Hunter visits Mount St. Mary that same day and time.