HAMDEN, Conn. ? The Monmouth University softball team began Northeast Conference play by sweeping a doubleheader at Quinnipiac Saturday afternoon, winning the first game 4-2 in 10 innings and the second contest 12-5. MU improves to 14-7 and 2-0 in league play, while the Bobcats fell to 4-14 and 0-2 in the NEC. The Blue and White have now won four straight games and seven of their last eight.
Kristine Sawlsville (Wyomissing, Pa./Wilson) pitched all 10 innings to earn the complete game win for Monmouth in the first game, improving to 6-3 on the season. She scattered seven hits while only allowing one earned run and struck out nine in the game. Heather Gordon (Hatboro, Pa./Mount St. Joseph's) went 2-for-5, including her second game-winning RBI in ten days. The RBI, which plated Lee Simonetti (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Our Lady of Lourdes), who scored two runs, was Gordon's 30th RBI on the season.
Nichole Alvarez (Brick, N.J./Brick Township) added a run and RBI for the Hawks as well, while Jaime Jurewicz added a RBI for MU as well.
The second game wasn't as close as Monmouth exploded for six runs in the first two innings, including five in the second, to pull away from Quinnipiac. Dawn Gilchrist (Newfoundland, N.J./Jefferson) got the scoring started with a solo home run in the top of the first inning and never looked back as they pounded out 15 hits in the nightcap.
MU had a number of players enjoy big offensive outbursts in the second game, as five players had multi-hit performances. Simonetti went 2-for-5 with three RBI, while Gilchrist was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Alvarez was 3-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored, and Kara O'Dell (Henderson, Nev./Green Valley) went 3-for-4. Gina Mignonga (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Lenape) was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI as well for MU.
Danielle Ellement (Thousand Oaks, Calif./Newbury Park) picked the win in relief of Angela Rand (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert), who started and pitched the first three innings. Ellement threw shutout ball over the final four innings, and only gave up two hits to improve to 5-0 on the season.
MU returns to action Sunday, April 1 when they continue their NEC road trip through the Constitution State by taking on Central Connecticut State in doubleheader action. First pitch of the day is set for 12 noon.
Pictured: Sophomore Kristine Sawlsville
