Little Falls, NJ (4/25/05) - Montclair State University split a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader today with Rutgers University, Camden at the MSU Softball Stadium, winning the opener, 1-0, in eight innings, before Rutgers-Camden took the nightcap by a 2-1 count. The host Red Hawks are now 21-7-1 overall (6-6 NJAC), while the visiting Scarlet Raptors emerged at 30-2 on the year (11-1 NJAC).

MSU ended Rutgers' 26-game winning streak in the opener as senior CF JOELLE FATA was placed on second base in the eighth inning in accordance with conference tiebreaker rules. Fata advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by MSU junior RHP ATHANASIA TOTARO, and then scored on a wild pitch by Rutgers junior RHP Michelle Schlichtig following two intentional walks, to give Montclair its fourth win in its last five outings and its first in extra innings this spring. Totaro improved to 13-3 on the year, striking out seven batters over eight innings while allowing just four hits, while Schlichtig fell to 21-1 despite 13 strikeouts, in the Scarlet Raptors' first setback since a 4-2 loss to York (PA) back on March 11. It was also the first loss in conference play for Rutgers-Camden this year after opening the campaign with 10 consecutive NJAC victories.

Rutgers-Camden took a 1-0 lead in the first inning of the rematch as RHP Becky Johnson drove in Schlichtig on a sacrifice fly to right field, after Schlichtig had led off with a single and advanced to third on a single through the left side by senior SS Celeste Chinappi. MSU tied the game in the top of the third when Totaro singled with one out, took second on  a single by senior DP NICOLE PACICCO, and then scored on a singled up the middle by senior 3B KARI MCDONNELL. Rutgers-Camden came back to take a 2-1 lead in the fourth frame as Schlichtig doubled to lead off and later scored off a wild pitch by Totaro for the decisive run. The Scarlet Raptors then held on defensively behind Schlichtig, who pitched the last four innings and retired 12 of the last 13 MSU batters for the win, striking out seven to improve to 22-1. Totaro took the loss for Montclair, throwing four innings with six hits allowed and three strikeouts tossed in falling to 13-4.

Montclair State now hosts Rutgers-Newark tomorrow afternoon at the MSU Softball Stadium at 3:00 p.m., while Rutgers-Camden hosts The College of New Jersey tomorrow at the same time in another NJAC doubleheader.