Little Falls, NJ (3/27/09) – `Freshman right-hander Katie Morrissey (Lanoka Harbor, NJ / Lacey Township) pitched nine-inning complete game in the opener and sophomore lefty Jen Lococo (Easton, PA / Freedom) went the eight-inning distance in the nightcap as DeSales University swept a doubleheader from Montclair State at the MSU Softball Stadium on Friday afternoon.

Sophomore catcher Kristin Schultz (Laurys Station, PA / Parkland) had four hits in the doubleheader as the Bulldogs improved to 12-6 overall.

Freshman designated player/pitcher Adrian Rastocny (Colonia, NJ / Colonia) drove in a pair of runs for the Red Hawks, who had their 10-game winning streak snapped. MSU was also swept in a doubleheader for the first time since April 2006 when Montclair dropped both ends of a twinbill at Rowan.

In the opener, Morrissey and Montclair lefty Kelly Karp (Edison, NJ / Edison) matched zeros on the scoreboard through first eight innings as neither team could find the one clutch hit.

But in the ninth with the tiebreaker rule in effect, the Bulldogs came alive with the bats. Kyra Monarek (Allentown, PA / Parkland) began the inning at second base and quickly moved to third on a sacrifice. Jamie Pfitzenmayer (Annandale, NJ / Hunterdon Central) lined a single through the right side to score the first run and began a string of five straight hits by DeSales.  Kerri Andrews (Bethlehem, PA / Bethlehem Catholic) collected a single to put runners at first and second and Amanda Kensecki (Bethlehem,PA / Liberty) followed with a base hit to score one more as DeSales led 2-0. Lococo then drove a base hit through the middle to bring home the third run which proved to be a key RBI.

In the bottom of the inning, with Karp at second, Kelly Nance (Marlboro, NJ / Marlboro) singled to left and took second on the throw. After a fly out, Rastocny blasted a pitch that hit the top of the fence in centerfield. Both runners would score cutting the MSU deficit to 3-2. But Morrissey retired the next two hitters on fly balls to end the game.

Morrissey (5-2) scattered eight hits, struck out eight and walked three. Karp suffered the loss, her first of the season (5-1). The lefthander fanned 11 batters and walked five in her 8.2 innings or work.

Schultz was 3-for-5 in the game while Pfitzenmayer and Kensecki each had two. Leslie Gonzalez (North Bergen, NJ / North Bergen) and Rastocny had two hits apiece for Montclair State.

DeSales would take 1-0 lead in the first inning of Game 2 as Andrews scored on a two-out error. Montclair would tie the game in the second on the second of five Bulldogs miscues in the game. After DeSales went back in front 2-1 in the third, MSU tied the game in its half as Jennifer Jimenez (Linden, NJ / Linden) scored on an error.

That’s the way the game would stay until the top of the eighth inning. Kate Steiner (Walnutport, PA / Northhampton) reached on a fielder’s choice with one out and went to second as Kelly Moran (Bethlehem, PA / Bethlehem Catholic) drew a walk. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch and Steiner scored as Schultz drilled a single to left field for a 3-2 lead. On the play, Schultz rounded first and was caught in a rundown by the Red Hawks. Moran would break for home and get in ahead of the throw for the final run.

Lococo retired the side in order in the bottom of the eighth as she improved to 5-2. She allowed seven hits, struck out six and walked two. Rastocny took the loss as she went 7.1 innings, walking five and striking out on while giving up four runs (two earned) and four hits.

Amanda Livsey (Congers, NY / Clarkstown North) and Megan Durkin (West Orange, NJ / West Orange) had two hits for Montclair State.

Both teams have quick turnarounds for conference contests on Saturday, March 28. Montclair State hosts The College of New Jersey in its NJAC opener at Noon while DeSales is home to take on King’s in a MAC contest scheduled for 1:00 pm.