WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. ? The Monmouth University softball team dropped a pair of nonconference games to Stony Brook by the same score of 4-2 on Wednesday afternoon. The Hawks, who had their five-game winning streak halted, fall to 10-5 on the season while the Seawolves improve to 15-3 on the year.
In the first game, Stony Brook took a 4-0 lead into the fifth inning before the Hawks were able to score twice in the bottom of the inning before ultimately dropping the contest. In the second game, MU took a 2-1 lead into the top of the fifth, but Stony Brook struck for three runs and shut the door on the Hawks in the bottom of the fifth for the win. The second game was called after the fifth inning due to darkness.
Senior Kristine Sawlsville (Wyomissing, Pa./Wilson) took the loss in the first contest, falling to 4-4 on the season. She pitched a complete game, giving up nine hits and four earned runs while striking out two and walking a pair of Seawolves.
After falling behind 4-0 after four and a half innings, Monmouth was able to score a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth. Senior Candice Palumbo (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough) led off the frame with a single to right field and Jaime Jurewicz (Holland, Pa./Nazareth Academy) followed with a base hit to right center. Both runners came around to score, the second courtesy of a run-scoring single to center from junior Alexa Ferrara (West Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell).
In the second contest, sophomore Melissa Mehrer (Florence, N.J./Florence Township) took her first loss of the season, falling to 5-1, after giving up six hits and four runs, three of which were earned, while striking out four and walking three.
After Stony Brook took a 1-0 lead in the second, the Hawks tied the game up in the bottom of the third after freshman Chelsea Paprocki (Manassas, Va./Forest Park) walked and came around to score on a throwing error. The Blue and White took a 2-1 lead one inning later when senior Jessellyn Jackson (Howell, N.J./Colts Neck) singled and scored on a throwing error. The Seawolves tacked on three runs in the top of the fifth to come back and claim the doubleheader sweep.
The Hawks return to action on Saturday, Marc h 28 when they open up Northeast Conference by hosting Robert Morris at 1:00 pm in a doubleheader.
