FAIRFIELD, Conn. ? The Monmouth University softball team split a Northeast Conference doubleheader with Sacred Heart on Sunday afternoon, winning the first game 4-0 and falling in the second contest 2-1 at Pioneer Park. Monmouth is now 5-14-1 and 2-2 in league play on the season while SHU is 9-14 and 3-1 in conference.
In the first game, the Hawks got a stellar outing from pitcher Kristine Sawlsville (Wyomissing, Pa./Wilson), as the junior pitched a three-hit shutout against the Pioneers, who were previously unbeaten in the NEC. Sawlsville, who improves to 3-6 on the season, struck out eight and walked nine in the contest.
MU started the afternoon's scoring in the second inning when Jessica Nicola (South Amboy, N.J./ Sayreville War Memorial) led off the frame with a solo home run, her second round tripper in as many days. The Hawks struck again in the fifth inning, when Emily deLong (Rothschild, Wisc./DC Everest) lined a sacrifice fly to left field which allowed Candice Palumbo (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough) to score the Hawks second run.
Monmouth scored two more runs in the top of the seventh, the first coming as deLong drove in freshman Dara Palms (Humble, Tex./Humble), who pinch ran for Palumbo after she singled. The final MU tally came when senior Gina Mignogna (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Lenape Regional) stole home later in the frame.
Palumbo and deLong each had two hits in the first game for Monmouth, with the freshman from Wisconsin also driving in a pair of runs and stealing a base.
In the second game, MU fell 2-1 to the host Pioneers. The Hawks again scored a run in the first inning as Nichole Alvarez (Brick, N.J./Brick Township) singled, stole second base and scored on a Nicola triple to right field. Sacred Heart evened the score in the bottom of the second inning and scored the winning run in the bottom of the fifth.
Melissa Mehrer (Florence, N.J./Florence Township) pitched all six innings, giving up three hits and two earned runs in the game to go along with six strikeouts and four walks. She falls to 2-7 on the season with the loss.
Alvarez went 2-for-4, and finished with two stolen bases on the day. Nicola was a perfect 2-for-2 in the second game for Monmouth.
The Hawks return to action on Wednesday, April 2 when they travel to South Orange, N.J. for a doubleheader with Seton Hall. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.
