NEW BRITAIN, Conn. ? The Monmouth University softball team split a Northeast Conference doubleheader with Central Connecticut State on Sunday afternoon, defeating the Blue Devils 11-2 in the first game before falling to the hosts 7-4 in the second game. MU now stands at 15-8 and 3-1 in the NEC on the season while CCSU is now 5-19 and 2-1 in the league.
The Blue and White enjoyed an offensive outburst in the first game as they belted two three-run home runs, the first blast off the bat of Kara O'Dell (Henderson, Nev./Green Valley) in the top of the first inning following a Lee Simonetti (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Our Lady of Lourdes) leadoff single and Nichole Alvarez (Brick, N.J./Brick Twp.) reaching after being hit with a pitch.
The second three-run dinger came in the fifth inning as Heather Gordon (Hatboro, Pa./Mount St. Joseph's) smacked a shot that scored Dawn Gilchrist (Newfoundland, N.J./Jefferson) and Alvarez. MU pounded out 14 hits in the game and many Hawks enjoyed fine games at the plate. Simonetti went 2-for-4 with two RBI while Gilchrist was a perfect 2-for-2 with a run scored and RBI. Alvarez scored three times, Gordon went 2-for-4 with a run and three RBI, and O'Dell was 3-for-4 with a run and five RBI. O'Dell was a double short of hitting for the cycle on the day, as she tripled in the fifth and singled an inning later to go with her first inning home run.
Freshman Jessica Nicola (South Amboy, N.J./Sayreville) continued her solid first year as she went 2-for-3 with a run and RBI, while Lisa DiLeo (Commack, N.Y./Commack) had two hits as well. The beneficiary of all this offense was Kristine Sawlsville, who pitched a complete-game three-hitter to improve to 7-3 on the season. She struck out four batters while only walking one, and did this a day after throwing a 10-inning complete game win over Quinnipiac on Saturday.
In the nightcap, MU scored three of their four runs via the long ball, but ultimately fell to CCSU. Nicola and Candice Palumbo (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough) each hit solo shots in the fifth inning, while Gordon added a solo home run an inning later. Alvarez collected two hits in the game, as did Nicola.
Danielle Ellement (Thousand Oaks, Calif./Newbury Park) started the second game for MU, but only lasted three innings to collect her first loss of the season. The senior gave up three earned runs before giving way to Angela Rand (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert), who threw the final three innings.
MU returns to action on Wednesday, April 4 when they host Manhattan in a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch is set for 3 pm.
Pictured: Junior Kara O'Dell
