WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Seven members of the Monmouth University softball team earned All-MAAC honors, the league announced tonight at its annual postseason awards show. In addition, senior Amanda Riley was named Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year after a perfect 11-0 record in league play, and head coach Shannon Salsburg was named MAAC Coach of the Year after guiding the Hawks to a 19-1 conference record.

Riley, senior DP Katie Baron, senior catcher Alex Holzman, and sophomore infielder Amber Wozniak were named to the All-MAAC First Team. Senior outfielder Chloe Howerth, sophomore infielder Sam Tomasetti, and sophomore infielder Kayla Rosado were named to the All-MAAC Second Team.

"Any time that we receive individual awards, we always talk about the fact that it's because of the team," said Salsburg. "It's really something special to see so many young ladies chosen for All-Conference awards, and it says a lot about our program and where we're heading. I couldn't be more proud of them and our team as a whole. It's also great to see Amanda get recognized for a major award, because she's had an outstanding year. In conference play, she's really found different ways to get people out. To have the coaches stand up and choose her as MAAC Pitcher of the Year, it's well deserved because of how hard she has worked. She would tell you that it wouldn't be possible without her defensive and offensive help."

Riley earned MAAC Pitcher of the Year honors for the first time in her career, and earned All-MAAC First Team honors for the second consecutive season. She compiled an 18-5 overall record with a 2.19 ERA and 186 strikeouts during the regular season. Riley led the conference in wins, strikeouts, shutouts (5), opponent's batting average (.194), and appearances (32). She ranked second for innings pitched with 159.2, and third for complete games (15), starts (23), and saves (3). In conference play, she went 11-0 with a 0.66 ERA and 99 strikeouts. She pitched nine complete games in the MAAC and registered five shutouts. Riley set the program record for strikeouts earlier this season, and she now has 630 in her career (133 more than the next closest). She also ranks first in Monmouth history with 654.2 innings pitched, first with 10 saves, second with 144 appearances, second with 99 starts, and third with 52 wins.

Baron led the MAAC with a .410 batting average during the regular season. She led the team with 55 hits and 34 RBI, and was tied for the team lead with eight home runs and 12 doubles. The senior also added 26 runs, 10 walks, and 13 hit by pitches on the season. She registered a team-leading .679 slugging percentage and a .497 on base percentage. She ranked top-3 in the conference in hits, RBI, doubles, total bases, slugging percentage, and on base percentage.

Holzman started 39 games behind home plate this season, and added eight home runs on the offensive side, which was tied for the team lead. She registered 28 hits during the season, including six doubles. Holzman was fourth on the team with 23 RBI and also scored 17 runs during the 2018 campaign. This is her first All-MAAC honor after joining the team before the 2017 season. Holzman ranks tied for sixth in program history with 18 career home runs.

Wozniak was second on the team with a .311 batting average this season. She started all 43 games at third base, and racked up 32 RBI, which ranked second on the team behind Baron and fourth in the conference. The sophomore ranked tied for second in the MAAC with 12 doubles on the year, and was ninth in the league with a .538 slugging percentage. Wozniak also contributed 22 runs, three triples, and four home runs throughout the season. She also gave Monmouth its 10^th-straight win on April 18 with a walk-off double against Columbia.

Howerth led the team with 38 runs scored on the season, which also ranked third in the conference. The senior was third on the team with a .309 batting average after starting all 43 games in center field. Howerth also added five doubles, three triples, and 12 RBI during the regular season. She stole seven bases as well, which ranked second on the squad. Howerth earns All-MAAC Second Team honors for the second straight year.

Tomasetti started all 43 games at shortstop for the Hawks, and ranked fourth on the team with a .299 batting average. The sophomore joined the team ahead of the season, and earns All-MAAC Second Team honors in her first year in the league. Tomasetti was second on the team with six home runs, mainly from the leadoff spot. She racked up 40 hits, 17 RBI, 32 runs, six doubles, and three triples on the season. Tomasetti was solid defensively throughout the year, earning a fielding percentage of .932 and a team-leading 86 assists. She was also perfect on the base paths, successfully stealing all four attempted  bases. Her .416 on base percentage ranked 8^th in the MAAC, while her .522 slugging percentage ranked 10^th in the conference.

Rosado earns All-MAAC Second Team honors a year after being named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team. She was third on the team with 26 RBI this season, and batted .297, which ranked fifth on Monmouth's roster. Rosado started all 43 games at first base, and compiled six doubles, one triple, and three home runs. The sophomore added 41 hits, 14 runs, a slugging percentage of .420, and an on base percentage of .370. She struck out a team-low 10 times (min. 25 at bats) during the season.

The Hawks earned their first Regular Season Championship since 1999, and secured the No. 1 seed at this year's MAAC Championships. In the double elimination tournament, Monmouth will play its first game tomorrow at 11:30 AM against Manhattan.
 
First Team All-MAAC
Catcher: Alex Holzman, Monmouth
Infield: Courtney Hankins, Fairfield*
Infield: Caroline Baratta, Marist
Infield: Amber Wozniak, Monmouth
Infield: Madysen Cossack, Siena*
Outfield: Ali Milam, Marist*
Outfield: Erin Larsen, Quinnipiac
Outfield: Toni Nino, Rider
Utility: Briana Matazinsky, Manhattan
DP: Katie Baron, Monmouth
Pitcher: Amanda Riley, Monmouth
Pitcher: Casey Herzog, Quinnipiac
 
Second Team All-MAAC
Catcher: Tori Danner, Iona & Claire Oberdorf, Marist
Infield: Mikayla Rubin, Fairfield
Infield: Jasmine Temple, Iona
Infield: Lauren Pitney, Manhattan
Infield: Kayla Rosado, Monmouth
Infield: Sam Tomasetti, Monmouth
Outfield: Shannon Puthe, Manhattan
Outfield: Chloe Howerth, Monmouth
Outfield: Keilani Finley, Quinnipiac
DP: Elyse Cuttic, Rider
Pitcher: Destinee Pallotto, Fairfield
Pitcher: Marnie Skinner, Iona
 
All-Rookie Team
Kara Paradowski, Canisius
Lauryn Rhinehart, Fairfield
Mikayla Rubin, Fairfield
Drew Westford, Fairfield
Daniela Chiorazzi, Manhattan*
Caroline Baratta, Marist*
Kelsey Harrigan, Niagara
Brighid Douglas, Quinnipiac
Payton Romines, Rider*
Theamaris Ramirez, Saint Peter's
Isabelle DeChiaro, Siena
 
Coach of the Year: Shannon Salsburg, Monmouth
Defensive Player of the Year: Brittany Colombo, Marist
Player of the Year: Courtney Hankins, Fairfield
Pitcher of the Year: Amanda Riley, Monmouth
Rookie of the Year: Caroline Baratta, Marist
 
*-Unanimous selection