Little Falls, NJ (4/6/06) – Senior righthander ATHANASIA TOTARO tossed a three-hitter in the opener and freshman shortstop JENNIFER JIMENEZ connected on a two-run homer in the nightcap as Montclair State swept a doubleheader from Hunter College at the MSU Softball Stadium on Thursday.

MSU (15-3) won the opener 1-0 before taking the second game, 5-2. Hunter fell to 9-8 on the season.

In the first game, Totaro and Hunter starter Allyshia West matched each other as they allowed only three hits. Totaro (8-1) struck out five and did not walk a batter while West (4-3) fanned seven and issued two bases on balls. With neither team able to generate much offense, Montclair State was able to scratch out a run in the bottom half of the fifth inning.

Pinch-hitter JENNA WEISS singled to open the inning and moved all the way to third on a pair of wild pitches. West was able to get the next two hitters and appeared to have completed the inning, however, Jimenez' ground ball to the left side was misplayed allowing Weiss to score with the lone run.

In Game No. 2, the runs were put up quickly as Montclair State scored twice in the first on a two-run homer run by Jimenez, her 10th of the season. Totaro singled to lead off the inning and an out was recorded before Jimenez belted the round-tripper to right-centerfield. Hunter was able to answer with two runs in the third. Gina Gutierrez walked with one out and went to second on a wild pitch. Catherine Alves then walked and the runners moved up on a sacrifice. Kari Porto then slapped a double to left field scoring both runners for a 2-2 tie.

Montclair State then countered in the bottom of the inning with three runs. Jimenez singled through the left side and she was on second after two outs. DANA WARNOCK drove home Jimenez with a single to put the Red Hawks up 3-2. MEGAN TANTUM followed with a run-scoring double and CHERYL BODAK delivered a run with a single as MSU took a three-run lead.

Righthander CAROLYN MCCREA made the lead stand up as she pitched the first six innings allowing two runs and three hits. McCrea struck out three and walked three before giving way to Warnock, who recorded the final three outs for her first save of the season.

Stephanie Donald took the loss. Donald (3-5) surrendered three runs and five hits while striking out four in her three-inning relief stint.

Bodak, Warnock, Tantum, Jimenez and MAUREEN SHOCKLEY each had two hits for Montclair, which collected 12 in the game. Gutierrez was 2-for-2 for Hunter.

The Red Hawks return to action on Friday, April 7 as they host Ramapo College at the MSU Softball Stadium at 3:00 pm. The twinbill is a makeup of a Tuesday postponement. Hunter will take on Ramapo on Sunday, April 9 in Mahwah.