Newark, NJ (4/11/06) – Sophomore pitcher
CAROLYN MCCREA picked up two victories, barely missing 5-inning no-hitter in the nightcap, as Montclair State swept Rutgers-Newark, 13-4 and 8-0, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader on Alumni Field.
In the opener, McCrea (9-3) came on in relief of starting pitcher
ATHANASIA TOTARO in the bottom of the fourth with the Red Hawks leading 3-2. She allowed two runs in the fifth as the Scarlet Raiders knotted the score at 4-4. McCrea gave up five hits, walked no one and struck out one in her four innings.
But a 5-run sixth inning highlighted by a 2-run, ground rule double by freshman shortstop
JENNIFER JIMENEZ made her a winner. Jimenez also added an RBI single in the 4-run seventh to help Montclair State improve to 19-5 overall and 4-4 in the NJAC.
Junior catcher
MEGAN TANTUM went three for four with an RBI double in the fifth and a 2-run single to cap the seventh inning outburst. Sophomore centerfielder
MAUREEN SHOCKLEY tripled to centerfield and scored MSU's first run in the third on a wild pitch, and singled and scored in the seventh.
Totaro, who gave up five hits and two runs while striking out two in three innings of pitching, went three for five at the plate with two doubles. She clouted a 2-run double to ignite the sixth-inning rally.
Junior third baseman Jen Raido went three for four with an inside-the-park solo home run into the leftfielder corner in the third inning. Junior rightfielder Jenna Valentine and junior first baseman Kate Schrumpf each went two for four for Rutgers-Newark (15-13, NJAC 2-6). In game two, McCrea gave up a solid single to rightfield by Valentine to lead off the fifth inning as she struck out six, walked just one and allowed only four base runners to out duel Raider junior Katie Wheelan . Wheelan blanked the Red Hawks through the first three innings.
Sophomore third baseman
JACKIE FERRANTI highlighted a 7-run fourth inning with a 2-run double straightaway centerfield. Reserve leftfielder
ASHLEY LUSTENBERGER had the only other extra-base hit for MSU, blasting an RBI triple to cap the inning.
Montclair State hosts Staten Island on Thursday at 3 p.m. in a non-conference doubleheader while Rutgers-Newark visits Richard Stockton on Saturday a 1 o'clock for an NJAC twinbill.
