The Monmouth University softball team improved to 3-1 on the young season after defeating Maine 12-0 and Holy Cross 7-1 on Tuesday afternoon at the Rebel Games in Orlando, Fla.

Sophomore Kristine Sawlsville (Wyomissing, Pa./Wilson) won the day's first game by hurling a five-inning complete game gem in MU's win against Maine. Senior Danielle Ellement (Thousand Oaks, Calif./Newbury Park) followed that up with a strong performance of her own, earning a complete game win in the Hawks' triumph over Holy Cross.

Against Maine, the MU offense was led by the top of the order as Lee Simonetti (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Our Lady of Lourdes) went 2-2 with two runs scored and Nichole Alvarez (Brick, N.J./Brick Twp.) went 2-3 with three runs scored and a stolen base. Heather Gordon (Hatboro, Pa./Mount St. Joseph) went 2-3 with a pair of doubles, two runs scored and three runs driven in on the day, while freshman Jessica Nicola (South Amboy, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial) drove in two runs with a double and a sacrifice fly.

Five Hawks had multi-hit efforts in MU's win over Holy Cross. Simonetti went 2-3 with an RBI, while Alvarez went 2-4 with two runs scored and three stolen bases. Gordon had two hits and two runs driven in, while Gina Mignogna (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Lenape Regional) went 2-3 with a run scored and one driven in. Jaime Jurewicz Holland, Pa./Nazareth Academy) added two hits with a double, and two runs scored and two driven in. 

MU returns to the diamond on Wednesday, March 7 when they take on La Salle at 11:00 a.m. and Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne at 3:00 p.m.

Pictured: Sophomore Kristine Sawlsville