The Monmouth Hawks secured a key CAA series victory over the Drexel Dragons this weekend, taking two of three games in Philadelphia behind a dominant offense and timely pitching.
Monmouth opened the series on Friday with a strong 9–1 victory, setting the tone early. The Hawks wasted no time jumping ahead, scoring twice in the first inning after an RBI double from sophomore infielder Ella Stevinson and capitalizing on a Drexel wild pitch. The early momentum carried throughout the game, as Monmouth consistently pressured Drexel pitching.
The Hawks broke things open in the middle innings. Sophomore infielder Gianna Stern delivered a two-run double in the third to extend the lead, while junior infielder Liv Smith and senior infielder Bri Lawson added RBI hits in the fourth. Senior Mackenzie Bloss later launched a home run, and senior Jayla Cadena followed with her own two-run blast, capping off a dominant offensive performance. Monmouth totaled nine runs in the game cruising to a commanding victory to start the series.
Saturday’s doubleheader presented a different challenge, as Drexel started off strong and responded in game one with a strong pitching performance to shut out Monmouth 2–0. The Dragons broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning, taking advantage of a Monmouth error and a wild pitch before junior Natalie Alldred of Drexel delivered an RBI double. Drexel added another run and held the Hawks to just three hits, with freshman pitcher Courtney Kols tossing a complete-game shutout.
Despite the setback, Monmouth bounced back in the second game of the doubleheader with another commanding 9–1 win to clinch the series. Drexel struck first in the second inning on a sacrifice fly, but the Hawks quickly answered. Freshman Carah Sumpter tied the game with a solo home run in the third before Monmouth took control in the fifth inning.
In a pivotal inning, the Hawks managed to execute at the plate with senior catcher Kaitlynn Place delivering a sacrifice fly to give Monmouth the lead, and Smith followed it up with an RBI single to extend it. The offense exploded again in the sixth inning, highlighted by a grand slam from Stern that broke the game open. Additional RBIs from Lawson helped seal the victory for the Hawks.
Across the three games, Monmouth showcased its offensive depth and ability to respond under pressure. The Hawks scored a combined 18 runs in their two wins, relying on contributions throughout the lineup. Stern emerged as a standout performer, driving in multiple runs across the series, including a grand slam in the finale. Cadena, Smith, and Lawson also played key roles in producing runs in critical moments of the games.
Pitching was equally important for Monmouth’s success. While the Hawks struggled in the shutout loss, they limited Drexel to just one run in each of their victories. Strong outings from the pitching staff, combined with improved defensive execution, helped Monmouth control the pace in both wins.
With the series win, Monmouth gains valuable momentum in conference play and demonstrates its ability to compete consistently within the CAA. Taking two of three on the road marks an important step forward for the Hawks as they continue their season.
Monmouth will look to build on this performance in its upcoming game against Penn on April 8 and a series set against Stony Brook on April 10-12.
