WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. ? The Monmouth University softball team swept a Northeast Conference doubleheader from Saint Francis, 9-6 and 7-1 to improve to 13-6 overall and 3-1 in the league. The first game was completed on Sunday while the second contest was started, but suspended due to darkness and finished up on Monday morning. Saint Francis falls to 13-18 and 1-3 in the NEC after the two losses.
The second game resumed with MU holding a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning on Monday. The Hawks opened up the game in fifth frame, striking for six runs. The big inning was keyed by a three-run, bases loaded double from senior Candice Palumbo (HIllsborough, N.J./Hillsborough) that put Monmouth in front 7-0. Sophomore Emily deLong (Rothschild, Wisc./DC Everest), junior Alexa Ferrara (West Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell) and senior Jessellyn Jackson (Howell, N.J./Colts Neck) each delivered run-scoring hits in the fifth frame for MU.
Sophomore Melissa Mehrer (Florence, N.J./Florence Township) picked up the win in the circle to improve to 7-1 on the season. She hurled a complete game, two-hitter, giving up one unearned run and striking out four in the contest.
In the first game, the Hawks pounded out 12 hits en route to the league win. The Blue and White took a 2-0 lead after the first inning as juniors Jessica Nicola (South Amboy, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial) and Ferrara each delivered RBI hits.
Senior Lee Simonetti (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Our Lady of Lourdes) delivered the third inning's big hit, a two-RBI single to left center that gave MU a 4-1 lead. After Saint Francis cut Monmouth's lead to 4-3 in the top of the fourth, deLong connected on a three-run homer to left to increase MU's advantage to 7-3.
After the Red Flash cut Monmouth's lead to 7-5, Ferrara delivered a two-RBI single to right center to increase the Hawks lead to 9-5. Senior Kristine Sawlsville (Wyomissing, Pa./Wilson) earned the win, her fifth of the season, pitching 5.1 innings. She gave up seven hits and five runs, four of which were earned. Mehrer came on in relief to pitch the final 1.2 innings to preserve the game one win.
In the first game Chelsea Paprocki (Manassas, Va./Forest Park) went 2-for-4 with two runs scored while senior Nichole Alvarez (Brick, N.J./Brick Township) was on base four times, stole a base and scored three runs. deLong went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and three RBI and Palumbo went 2-for-3.
The Hawks return to action on Wednesday, April 1 when they host Seton Hall at 3:00 pm.
