Softball swept Wagner in their first home series of the season, shutting them out and winning by a combined score of 12-0 over the two games on Sunday at MU Softball Park.
Monmouth won by eight runs in the first game and four runs in the second. Sophomore pitchers Lilly Robles and Alyssa Irons both threw six scoreless innings, only allowing for a combined seven hits throughout the day.
The Hawks began game one with explosive energy in the bottom of the second inning. Sophomore outfielder Katie Harrington started it off by hitting a single out to center field, followed by her stealing second base. Irons was walked to first base, and then she and Harrington stole second and third base, respectively. Junior infielder Deangie Jimenez hit an RBI groundout to first base, allowing Harrington to score the first run.
In their next at bat, Monmouth scored three more runs. Junior first baseman Kayla Rosado hit an RBI single to left center field, bringing home freshman infielder/outfielder Lindsey Baron for a run. With junior outfielder Amber Wozniak and senior outfielder Jasmine Higa on second and third base, Harrington hit a single out to center field to score them both.
There was a bit of a stalemate for a few innings, neither team scored any runs until the bottom of the sixth when Monmouth ended the game with a 8-0 shutout. After two fly outs in a row, junior infielder Sam Tomasetti hit a two-RBI double to left center field, with Jimenez and Irons crossing home plate to score two more runs.
Rosado went up and hit a single to right field, which sent Tomasetti home for another run. Wozniak hit a single to right center and advanced Rosado to third base followed by Hopeck hitting a single up the middle and Rosado scoring to seal the team’s eighth and final run of the game.
“We talk a lot about playing well on our home field, and it was nice to set the tone early,” said Head Coach Shannon Salsburg. “Alyssa came out and threw a great game, and I thought our defense was fantastic in both games. From top to bottom, we found ways to push runs across.”
In game two, no runs were scored until the bottom of the fourth inning, where Monmouth got their 4-0 lead and eventual victory over Wagner.
Rosado was the first player on base in the inning after getting walked, followed by Wozniak hitting a single to advance Rosado to second base. Hopeck slugged one out to right field, which advanced Wozniak to third base and brought Rosado home for the first run of the game.
Jimenez hit a line drive to left field which allowed Wozniak to tag up from third base and score. Sophomore catcher Erika Coreth hit an RBI single to left field, bringing home Hopeck to make the score 3-0. The final run of the game was a result of sophomore outfielder Morgan Maziraz hitting an infield single that brought Harrington home.
“In game two, Lilly did a nice job of throwing her pitches and forcing them to adjust to her, not vice versa,” Salsburg said.
The Hawks added two more wins to their record, improving it to 13-8 for this season. They have won their last 16 home games, a record that dates back to last season and are 7-0 for games played on Sundays this year.
Monmouth will remain in West Long Branch to open up Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play this weekend, with two games against Canisius on Saturday and two versus Niagara on Sunday.
PHOTO TAKEN by Karlee Sell
