The softball team defeated Saint Joseph’s, split with Robert Morris, and was swept by Saint Francis (Pa.) last week and is now 11-11 on the season, 3-5 in the Northeast Conference (NEC).
The Hawks defeated Saint Joseph’s 3-2 last Wednesday thanks to a Chealsea Paprocki‘s double in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Tish Derer, Kayleena Flores and Alicia Desanto each had two hits for MU, accounting for six of the team’s nine hits.
Alissa Schoelkopf was the winning pitcher for the Blue and White, improving her record to 3-1. In two innings of work, she allowed one run while striking out four and walking two. Jordan Barnett pitched five innings, allowing one run with one strikeout.
In the bottom of the sixth, the game was tied at two. Flores walked to start the inning. Kate Kuzma grounded out, moving Flores to second. That’s when Paprocki stepped up and put the Hawks ahead. She doubled to right-center, knocking in Flores and giving MU the 3-2 lead that they would never relinquish.
Monmouth traveled to Robert Morris for a double-header Saturday. RMU won the first game 5-2. The Hawks took the second game, 3-2.
Barnett took the loss for Monmouth in game one. In 2.1 innings, she allowed seven hits and four runs. Lauren Sulick pitched 3.2 innings, allowing three hits and a run. She struck out three and walked four.
Christine Scherr and Vanessa Cardoza each had an RBI for the Blue and White. Each of them hit solo home runs.
Schoelkopf pitched game two for the Hawks. She threw a complete game, picking up for fourth win of the year. She allowed seven hits and two runs, while striking out six and walking four.
Cardoza hit another solo home run in the sixth to put MU ahead 3-2.
“I thought Vanessa did a great job at the plate. She is a very strong hitter and a tough out,” said head coach Louie Berndt. “Vanessa will only get stronger as she grows and maintains her patience at the plate.”
Scherr had two RBIs in the game. In the top of the third, she doubled to right center to knock in Shannon Fitzgerald. She gave Monmouth a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth when she singled to the left side, plating Paprocki.
The Hawks traveled to Saint Francis (Pa.) and lost both games, 7-3 and 14-4.
In game one, Scherr had two hits and an RBI. She led off the game with a home run and put Monmouth ahead 1-0.
Sulick was the losing pitcher, allowed five runs in three innings.
Brooke Koch pitched a complete game for the Red Flash, improving her record to 6-1.
Saint Francis (Pa.) scored in every inning in the second game.
Barnett took the loss for MU, pitching two innings and giving up four runs, three earned.
Cardoza went two for three from the plate, improving her batting average to .371 on the season.
MU has gone 5-7 in the last two weeks and hopes to find a way to turn its season around.
“The team needs to get back to work, play each game as it is supposed to be played. We need to cut down our mistakes as we are making way too many errors and putting too many runners on base,” said Berndt. “I can only hope that we have that out of our system and we move forward, as we have a lot more games ahead of us.”
Monmouth’s currently tied for eighth in the NEC with Mount St. Mary’s. Farleigh Dickinson sits atop the conference with a 3-1 record.
Friday, Wagner comes to West Long Branch for a NEC doubleheader. The first game starts at 1:00 pm.
PHOTO COURTESY of MU Photography
