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Sports

Softball Doomed by Errors, 2-2 Over Weekend

The softball team split a doubleheader Saturday against Sacred Heart. Monmouth won the first game, 2-1. The Pioneers avenged the loss in the second game, 10-6.

“In my mind we’re better than we performed, but we have to play hard every game,” said head coach Louie Berndt. “We can’t keep going up and down, up and down. We have to perform better. We didn’t do our jobs.

In the first game, Kayla Weiser was the hero for the Hawks (9-8, 2-2). In the bottom of the third, Weiser homered to right-center, putting MU ahead 2-1. This proved to be the game-winning hit.

The Blue and White scored in the opening frame. Tish Derer walked, stole second and scored when Weiser singled to left-center.

The Pioneers tied the game in the top of the third. Liz Tsipouras was hit by a pitch, and Noelle Cahill came in to pinch run. Justine Sibthorp stepped up and doubled down the left field line. Cahill scored on the play.

Jordan Barnett picked up her first win of the season for the Hawks. She pitched all seven innings, allowing four hits. She struck out four and walked seven in the game.

“We had too many walks, and too many walks that the umpire took away from us. We struck kids out twice or gave them extra pitches,” said Berndt. “They have to be better. We can’t have the number of walks that we have because we’re giving up way too many walks. Whether the umpire is working for us or against us.”

Defensive errors tormented the Hawks in the second game against Sacred Heart.

“They have to learn to play the game. They have to communicate better. They have to attack the ground balls and we can’t make the mistakes that we’re making,” said Berndt. “We were so sharp in Texas, we didn’t make mistakes. Then all of a sudden there is miscommunication, not doing their jobs on defense. We’re going to find a unit that does their job.”

Monmouth committed five errors in the game. Three came in the fourth inning, where the Pioneers scored four runs with two hits.

Kate Kuzma led MU offensively. She hit a two-run homer in the second inning to give the Hawks an early 2-1 lead.

Lauren Sulick pitched six innings and took the loss in the second game for MU. She allowed six hits and 10 runs. She struck out four and walked eight.

A majority of the runs were unearned. Berndt said, “In that last game she gave up three earned runs, they beat us 10-6.”

Alissa Schoelkopf pitched one inning, allowing no runs and tallying a strikeout. 

Kate Nadler and Nikki Surkes led the Pioneers with two RBIs each. 

The Hawks split their doubleheader on Sunday against Quinnipiac. MU lost the first game 6-5, and won the second 4-1.

Barnett was the losing pitcher in the first game. She pitched the entire game and allowed six runs, two of which were earned. She walked three and struck out one. 

Errors were a problem again for Monmouth. They committed four errors in the game resulting in four unearned runs. 

Christine Scherr and Weiser each had two RBIs for MU.

Sulick was the winning pitcher for MU in the second game of the double-header. She pitched the entire game, allowing four hits and one run. Sulick walked one and struck out five. 

Weiser continued to lead with the bat, pacing the Hawks with two RBIs. She tripled down the right field line in the first inning, plating Derer. Kuzma came up next and Weiser scored on a fielder’s choice.

Monmouth’s next game is Wednesday, March 28 at home against St. Joseph’s at 3:30 pm. They are back to Northeast Conference play this weekend with games against Robert Morris and Saint Francis (Pa.).

PHOTO COURTESY of MU Photography