STONY BROOK, N.Y. ? The Monmouth University softball team dropped an 8-5 decision in the first game and tied 2-2 after five innings in the nightcap of a doubleheader with Stony Brook of the America East on Tuesday afternoon at University Field.
The Hawks now sit at 2-9-1 on the season, while the Seawolves are now 6-6-1.
Nichole Alvarez (Brick, N.J./Brick Township) connected on home runs in consecutive at-bats in the first game for the Hawks. The junior from nearby Brick celebrated her 21st birthday on Tuesday with those two home runs.
MU jumped out to a 3-0 first-inning lead on Alvarez's first round-tripper. Lee Simonetti (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Our Lady of Lourdes) led off the game with a double to right center and freshman Abby Martin (Oswego, N.Y./Oswego) followed up with a bunt single to set up Alvarez's blast.
After Stony Brook struck for two runs in the bottom of the first, Gina Mignogna (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Lenape) led off the top of the second with a walk and came around to score on Alvarez's second homer of the contest, putting MU up 5-2. The Seawolves came back with one run in the bottom of the second and scored five runs over the final two innings for the 8-5 win.
Junior Kristine Sawlsville (Wyomissing, Pa./Wilson) pitched the first 4.1 innings, giving up eight hits and six runs, three of which were earned. She struck out four batters and walked two. Freshman Melissa Mehrer (Florence, N.J./Florence Township) pitched the final 1.2 innings, surrendering three hits and two earned runs.
Alvarez led MU by going 3-for-5 with the pair of home runs and five runs driven in. She also added a stolen base. Simonetti also went 3-for-5 with a double.
In the second contest, Stony Brook scored in the bottom of the first, but MU struck for two runs in the third. Freshman Emily deLong (Rothschild, Wisc./DC Everest) connected on her first collegiate home run, driving in Simonetti as well, to put the Hawks up 2-1. The Seawolves evened the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth, where the contest was called due to darkness.
Mehrer pitched the second game, giving up two earned runs and five hits in five innings.
The Hawks return to action on Saturday, March 22 when they host Pennsylvania in their 2008 home opener. First pitch for the doubleheader is set for 12 p.m. with the second game starting approximately twenty minutes after the first contest ends.
