EMMITSBURG, Md. ? The Monmouth University softball team swept Mount St. Mary's in a Northeast Conference doubleheader on Friday, winning 2-0 and 12-8. The Hawks improve to 19-9-1 overall and 7-3 in the league while the Mountaineers fall to 8-27 and 3-6 in the conference. The Hawks have now six straight contests, including four in a row in NEC play.
In the first game of today's twinbill, Monmouth sophomore Emily deLong (Rothschild, Wisc./DC Everest) supplied all the offense with a two-run home run to left field in the top of the third inning. That proved to be all the run support that fellow sophomore Melissa Mehrer (Florence, N.J./Florence Township) needed in the circle as she outdueled Mount ace Jamie Fowler in the first contest. Mehrer, who improved to 11-3 on the year, hurled a complete game three-hitter, adding a pair of strikeouts.
Senior Lee Simonetti (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Our Lady of Lourdes) went 2-for-2 at the dish in the first game. She scored on deLong's home run in the third inning after walking.
In the second game, MU outslugged the Mount to earn the 12-8 win. The Hawks battled back from down 5-0 after one inning and 8-2 after the second frame to earn the come-from-behind win. Down 8-2 heading into the third inning, deLong delivered yet another long ball to cut the lead to 8-4. That home run marked the sophomore's 12th of the year, tying her for the Monmouth single season round-tripper record. Two innings later, junior Alexa Ferrara (West Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell) added a solo home run, her first of her four runs driven in. MU struck for four runs in the sixth sparked by RBI-singles from deLong and junior Jessica Nicola (South Amboy, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial). Ferrara would conclude Monmouth's scoring with a two-run single in the seventh that plated seniors Jessellyn Jackson (Howell,N.J./Colts Neck) and Simonetti.
Simonetti scored three runs in the second game while deLong went 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs. Ferrara enjoyed a 2-for-4 second game with four runs driven in and two runs scored. Nicola went 3-for-5 while Jackson enjoyed a perfect 3-for-3 game with three runs scored.
Mehrer started the second game, but only lasted two-thirds of an inning, giving up four hits and five runs, three of which were earned. Senior Kristine Sawlsville (Wyomissing, Pa./Wilson) came on to toss the final 6.1 innings in relief to earn the win, her seventh of the season. She scattered hits and gave up three runs, one of which was earned, to go along with five strikeouts. The win is the 36th in the senior's career, giving her sole possession of fifth place in Monmouth history.
The Hawks pay a visit to in-state rival Rider on Saturday for a 12:00 pm nonconference doubleheader.
