WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. ? The Monmouth University softball team swept Central Connecticut State in a Northeast Conference doubleheader, winning 3-1 and 5-4, on Saturday afternoon. The Hawks, winners of five straight now, improve to 17-21-1 and 7-7 in the league, while CCSU falls to 12-23 and 4-10 in the NEC.
In the second game, senior Gina Mignogna (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Lenape) delivered the game-winning hit in the bottom of the sixth inning when she drove a two-RBI triple to straight away centerfield to put the Hawks in front 5-4. The senior snapped a 0-21 slump with the hit, which helped Monmouth complete a comeback win and keep MU in contention for a NEC playoff spot.
The Hawks fell behind 3-0 after the second inning, but stormed back for three runs in the bottom of the fourth to square the game. CCSU struck for a pair of runs in the top of the sixth, but MU mounted a comeback that began when Jaime Jurewicz (Holland, Pa./Nazareth Academy) was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the inning. After Dara Palms (Humble, Tex./Humble) was sent in to pinch run, Candice Palumbo (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough) reached on a throwing error by the shortstop, which set the stage for Mignogna's heroics.
Freshman Abby Martin (Oswego, N.Y./Oswego) got the win in relief, pitching 1.2 innings of ho-hit ball to improve to 3-0. She came on for Kristine Sawlsville (Wyomissing, Pa./Wilson), who pitched 5.1 innings, giving up eight hits and four earned runs. She struck out eight in the game while walking two.
In the first game, the Hawks scored two in the bottom of the first on a Jessica Nicola (South Amboy, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial) two-run double to left center, plating Nichole Alvarez (Brick, N.J./Brick Township) and Lee Simonetti (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Our Lady of Lourdes). MU added a big insurance run in the sixth when Emily deLong (Rothschild, Wisc./DC Everest) lifted a sacrifice fly that scored Alavrez.
Melissa Mehrer (Florence, N.J./Florence Township) earned the win with a complete-game, four-hitter to improve to 5-9.
The Hawks return to action tomorrow, Sunday, April 27 when they host Quinnipiac in a doubleheader at 12:00 p.m. Before the game, the Monmouth University softball program will celebrate Senior Day, honoring the team's four seniors.
