Little Falls, NJ (4/28/05) - Senior DP/2B NICOLE PACICCO hit 4-for-6 with four runs and four runs batted in and sophomore catcher MEGAN TANTUM finished 4-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI as Montclair State University recorded a pair of 8-0 wins over Baruch College today to sweep an NCAA Division III non-conference doubleheader at the MSU Softball Stadium. The host Red Hawks improve to 25-7-1 overall and end a 12-game homestand at 10-2, while the visiting Bearcats fall to 8-21 on the year.

MSU took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning of the opener as Pacicco singled to left field, took second on a wild pitch, and came home on an error that also put senior 3B KARI MCDONNELL at second base. Senior LF MEGAN SWEENEY singled home McDonnell for the two-run lead, and Pacicco then launched her team-leading eighth home run of the season to left with two outs just three innings later with junior RHP ATHANASIA TOTARO aboard to score two runs and put Montclair up, 4-0. The Red Hawks then added four runs in the fifth frame to close out the contest early as Pacicco finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs, and Totaro struck out 10 batters, walked two and did not allow a base runner until the fourth inning in pitching a no-hitter to improve to 15-4 this spring. Senior CF JOELLE FATA also drove in two runs in the game for Montclair, which posted its 12th shutout of the season. Junior RHP Kathy Maher absorbed the loss for the Bearcats (11 hits, six earned runs, three walks, no strikeouts).

Montclair State took a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning in the second contest on four hits and two Baruch errors, as freshman LF WHITNEY DRIVER, Pacicco and Tantum all doubled, with the latter two driving in a run apiece. The game was then delayed by inclement weather for almost a half-hour before Montclair tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the fourth stanza en route to its fourth straight win and 13th overall shutout. MSU freshman RHP CAROLYN MCCREA improved to 6-1 for the Red Hawks, allowing just one hit to Baruch freshman OF Melinda Dolan, and just one walk over four frames while fanning eight Bearcat hitters. Sophomore RHP Ally Stamatiades took the loss for Baruch (6 hits, 5 earned runs, 5 walks, 1K).

Prior to the opener today, MSU honored its four-member senior class of Fata, McDonnell, Pacicco and Sweeney, who together have led the Red Hawks to 125 total wins and three consecutive ECAC Division III South championships. Montclair State now closes out its New Jersey Athletic Conference schedule at Kean University on Saturday in Hillside, NJ. MSU is 8-6 in NJAC play so far this year, and is still alive for one of four berths in the 2005 NJAC Tournament.