After Monmouth’s first loss against the Broncs Sunday afternoon, junior Jill Freese hit a home run, two doubles, three RBI’s and three runs in Game 2 securing the Hawks’ second win at Herb and Joan Young Field.
Rider brought in three runs during the bottom of the sixth inning to win Game 1 with a score of 3-1. The Hawks then came back with a 12-9 win. With the split on Sunday, MU now stands 5-12 overall and 1-1 in the conference.
Senior Vanessa Cardoza, senior Kayleena Flores and junior Emma Hill all added three hits each during the doubleheader. Hill also saw the plate twice and added an additional stolen base as well as an RBI. Freshman Ashalynn Umiamaka added two hits as well as doubling, driving in two and scoring once. Sophomore Rachel Shotzbarger also had two hits, an RBI and one run scored.
Freshman Chloe Howerth doubled, drove in two and scored a run while sophomore Justine Reyes added a base hit, two RBI’s and a run of her own. Junior Raelynn Galindo helped the cause with a two-run single.
Sophomore southpaw Sydney Underhill pitched eight innings throughout the two games. During Game 1, she allowed three unearned runs, however, she was awarded the save in Game 2 with a bases loaded, no outs situation during the sixth inning. Overall, she gave up four runs. Game 1 saw the Hawks pull ahead of Rider in the top of the first with a 1-0 lead courtesy of Hill’s movement on the base path. The junior from Montana singled, stole second base, took third then found home plate with a RBI from Umiamaka. The game was at a standstill until the Broncs plated three runs in the bottom of the sixth. With runners on second and third, Rider’s Gina McCool tied the game with a single to right field. With two outs, Rider’s Allysen Breeden hit a two-run single up the middle which brought in the Broncs’ victory.
It was the Broncs who gained an early lead in Game 2 thanks to Emily Cottrell’s two-out RBI single to left field. MU kept silent until the top of the third when they brought home four runs.
The third inning rally was ignited by Shotzbarger’s single. Freese then brought Shotzbarger home with an RBI double which tied the game. The bases were loaded when Howerth came up to the plate.
A fielder’s choice created an opportunity for Freese to advance the Hawks’ lead, but that opportunity took Hill off the base path. A fielder’s choice on Reyes’ at bat created the final run of the inning for the blue and white.
MU added two more runs in the fourth off a two-run home run to left field by Freese. Rider replied immediately with four runs in the bottom of the inning to edge MU, 6-5.
Breeden connected for a two-run homer while teammate Dana Sensi followed with a two-run double.
Breeden hit a two-run home run to left and Dana Sensi later delivered a two-run double to left center. Head Coach Louie Berndt then pulled Amanda Riley from the game.
Relieving Riley was senior Breanna Sniffen who issued one walk before closing the inning.
The top of the fifth had Reyes walk with one out and a two-out infield single by Flores which set up Shotzbarger who hit a single to right increasing the Hawk’s lead to 7-5.
The top of the sixth saw three more runs for MU. Cardoza and Hill each had a single to begin the inning before moving to second and third with a Howerth groundout.
A walk from Umiamaka loaded the bases while a groundout from Reyes gave MU an 8-5 lead. Galindo then hit a two-out, two-run pinch-hit single to left to increase the Hawks lead to 10-5. Rider made a very profound threat as Cottrell hit a grand slam to cut MU’s lead to 10-9.
Fortunately for the Hawks, the Broncs failed to add another run while MU added two more insurance runs making the final score 12-9.
The Hawk’s return to the field Wednesday, April 1 for a non-conference game hosting Drexel at 4 pm at MU Softball Park.
PHOTO COURTESY of Taylor Jackson
