Little Falls, NJ (05/14/05) – Montclair State University won both of its games today on the first day of competition in the 2005 Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III South Championships at the MSU Softball Stadium. The second-seeded Red Hawks outlasted top-seeded Westminster (PA) College, 9-8, in the fourth and final game of the day to advance to tomorrow's championship game at noon.

Montclair State junior DP ATHANASIA TOTARO and freshman RF CHERYL BODAK each cracked a three-run double in the top of the third inning as the Red Hawks overcame a 3-0 deficit after two innings, with Westminster scoring three times in the second stanza off three hits and one Montclair error.

Westminster came back to tie the game, 8-8, in the sixth with three runs off four hits and an error in that stanza, but MSU sophomore SS Crystal Dahlhaus then singled home sophomore LF DANA WARNOCK from third base in the top of the eighth with two outs for the winning run.

Senior 1B Heidi Kimmel batted 4-for-4 and drove in four runs for the Titans, who collected 15 hits in all, while Totaro also went 4-for-4 with three RBI and also picked up the pitching victory for MSU to improve to 17-5 this season, tossing three strikeouts over the last three innings while surrendering five hits and three earned runs.

Westminster edged fifth-seeded Richard Stockton College, 3-2, in eight innings in today's opener, as the Titans plated two runs in the bottom of the eight inning after Stockton had taken a 2-1 lead in the top of the same frame.

Kimmel drove in the winning run with no outs in the bottom of the eighth, while Westminster sophomore pitcher Jennifer Pancake improved to 21-4 this spring, allowing nine hits and one walk while striking out four hitters. Senior LF Kristi Zarr went 3-for-4 for the opposing Ospreys, who advanced to the championships after a first-round 2-0 victory at fourth-seeded Bethany (WV) on May 11.

Montclair State defeated sixth-seeded Hunter College, 5-2, in the second game today for its 14 th straight victory in ECAC play since 2001. Sophomore catcher MEGAN TANTUM batted 3-for-4 with two RBI for the Red Hawks, who defeated Hunter for the fourth time in four tries this season. Totaro scattered eight hits over seven innings while walking one batter and striking out seven for the win. Sophomore catcher Tiffany Rock batted 3-for-3 and scored a run for the opposing Hawks, who recorded a 4-2 first-round ECAC win at third-seeded LaRoche (PA) on Wednesday afternoon.

Hunter (23-16) eliminated Stockton (25-15) as senior CF Shani Espinal went 2-for-4 and drove in a run, and freshmen pitchers Allyshia West and Stephanie Donald combined on a five-hit shutout with five strikeouts. Senior 2B Mary Ann Busan went 2-for-3 for Stockton in her final game.

The championships conclude tomorrow beginning at 10 a.m. when Hunter faces Westminster, with the winner advancing to play Montclair State at noon for the title. A second championship game, if necessary, will begin at approximately 2:00 p.m.

MSU has won the last five ECAC D3 South titles, all at home.