Softball earned four wins on the road this weekend while competing in doubleheaders against Manhattan and Saint Peter’s, respectively, as sophomore pitcher Alyssa Irons clinched third place for most wins in program history in a single season with 20.
On Saturday, the Hawks traveled up to Riverdale, NY to play a doubleheader against Manhattan. Both games were won by Monmouth; first 3-1 and then 4-3. Irons went the distance in the circle for both wins, only allowing three runs to be earned by Manhattan in the 14 combined innings.
In game one, Monmouth got on the board quickly as a result of a sacrifice fly ball hit by sophomore catcher Erika Coreth in the top of the second inning, allowing junior utility player Amanda Hopeck to score. Manhattan senior infielder Kat Prevo hit an RBI, tying the game up 1-1 in the bottom of the third inning.
Neither team scored again until the Hawks took the lead in the top of the sixth inning. Junior first baseman Kayla Rosado hit a single out to right field, bringing freshman infielder and outfielder Lindsey Baron home to score. Sophomore outfielder Katie Harrington doubled to left field, allowing fellow sophomore outfielder Morgan Maziarz to come home and chalk up the final run of the game.
Game two began slowly, with neither team making their way onto the scoreboard until the top of the fourth inning, when Monmouth scored two runs. The first run was due to junior outfielder Amber Wozniak hitting a single to center field, resulting in Maziarz scoring and putting the Hawks on the board. The second run occurred two batters later, with Harrington hitting a single and getting Hopeck to run home to make the score 2-0.
Manhattan regained the lead in the following inning, scoring three runs. Sophomore infielder Victoria Alonso singled to left field, bringing home her teammate, freshman outfielder Megan Gillooley, to score and put the Jaspers on the board. Following this, Prevo smashed a triple to left center field, bringing home two more runs for Manhattan and taking the lead, 3-2.
The Hawks tied up the game in the top of the fifth inning with Coreth hitting her second home run of the season. The winning run was scored by Monmouth off a fielding error during the top of the sixth inning. Junior infielder Deangie Jimenez earned an RBI after an error by Manhattan’s second baseman, bringing home Hopeck for the win.
“I was very pleased with the way we battled today,” said Head Coach Shannon Salsburg. “Manhattan is a tough place to play, but we did a good job of adjusting and playing our game. Alyssa [Irons] was attacking their hitters, and we had multiple people with big days. Erika [Coreth] and Amanda [Hopeck] came up with big hits and had outstanding days. It’s always nice to see production from top to bottom.”
The doubleheader against Saint Peter’s resulted in not one, but two shutouts. Irons and sophomore pitcher Lilly Robles pitched a combined 11 innings, and let up zero runs. Both games were ended early due to the two run rule, with Monmouth coming out on top with two 8-0 wins.
In game one, the Hawks came in hot. The first run of the day was a result of Rosado hitting a solo home run to center field during her first at bat in the top of the first inning. The score stayed 1-0 until the top of the fourth inning, when Rosado hit yet another solo home run to make the score 2-0. This was followed by Harrington doubling to left field, bringing home Hopeck for the third run as well as Harrington stealing home to earn a fourth.
In the top of the fifth, Baron bombed a double to left field, bringing home both Jimenez and senior outfielder Jasmine Higa. Baron then scored due to junior outfielder Sam Tomasetti hitting a single out to right field, followed by Hopeck hitting a double to left center, bringing home Maziarz for the final run of the game.
Monmouth quickly got on the board in game two with Tomasetti and Wozniak hitting back-to-back singles during their first at bats, allowing Baron and Tomasetti to score, respectively.
In the top of the third inning, the Hawks put four more runs on the board. Tomasetti scored again off of a single hit by Hopeck, followed by Higa scoring on an error made by Saint Peter’s. Jimenez singled out to center field, allowing Hopeck to score the fifth run. With one out left and the bases loaded, Maziarz flew out to center field, allowing Harrington to tag up for the sixth run of the game and the fourth run of the inning.
In the top of the sixth inning, Hopeck hit a single to center field, bringing home Rosado and Baron, earning Monmouth their second 8-0 shutout of the day.
After the games this past weekend, the Hawks overall record improved to 26-12 and their Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) record improved to 11-1.
Monmouth will stay fresh with a non-conference doubleheader versus Lafayette in Easton, PA this afternoon ahead of this weekend’s two-game set at Marist. First pitch in the MAAC showdown against the Red Foxes is set for 12:00 p.m. on Saturday.
PHOTO TAKEN by Karlee Sell
