WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. ? Sophomore Kristine Sawlsville (Wyomissing, Pa./Wilson) tossed a no-hitter in the first game of a doubleheader as the Monmouth University softball team swept St. Francis (Pa.) 5-0 and 10-2 Friday afternoon at the MU Softball Park. The Hawks improve to 17-8 and 5-1 in the Northeast Conference, while the Red Flash fall to 8-22 and 0-4 in the league.
Sawlsville struck out eight, walked one and hit one batter in the game to improve to 8-3 on the season. Heather Gordon (Hatboro, Pa./Mount St. Joseph's) went 2-for-4 with a run driven in on a first inning double to lead the MU offensive charge in support of Sawlsville in game one.
Jessica Nicola (South Amboy, N.J./Sayreville) led off the bottom of the second inning with a single and came around to score on a wild pitch. Lisa DiLeo (Commack, N.Y./Commack) singled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Gina Mignogna (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Lenape) later in the inning.
Dawn Gilchrist (Newfoundland, N.J./Jefferson) led off the fifth inning with a single, and scored on a Kara O'Dell (Henderson, Nev./Green Valley) base hit, and Caitlin Tighe (Somers, N.Y./Kennedy Catholic) concluded the Monmouth scoring when she scored after pinch-running for O'Dell.
In the second game, another solid pitching performance and two tremendous defensive plays stole the show as Angela Rand (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert) threw a five-inning complete game to improve to 4-1 on the season. She allowed seven hits and struck out five to earn the win. The defensive gems were supplied by Nicola, who playing behind the plate made a sliding grab against the fence behind home plate in the top of the third, and Nichole Alvarez (Brick, N.J./Brick Twp.), who made a diving catch to end the top of the fourth inning with Red Flash runners on second and third.
Lee Simonetti (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Our Lady of Lourdes) went 1-for-4, but scored two runs and drove in three RBI in the second game, while Gilchrist went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Gordon went a perfect 2-for-2 with a RBI, O'Dell and Nicola each went 2-for-3 with a run scored, and Jaime Jurewicz (Holland, Pa./Nazareth Academy) went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a RBI.
MU pounded out 12 hits in the nightcap as five Hawks registered at least two hits in the game.
MU returns to action on Saturday, April 7 when they host Robert Morris in a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 12 pm.
Pictured: Senior Heather Gordon
