PISCATAWAY, N.J. ? The Monmouth University softball team fell to Rutgers, 6-1 in a nonconference single game at the RU Softball Complex on Wednesday afternoon. The Hawks drop to 19-10-1 overall and the Scarlet Knights improve to 15-24 on the season.

Monmouth sophomore and reigning Akadema/Northeast Conference Player of the Week Emily deLong (Rothschild, Wisc./DC Everest) set the program record for home runs in a single season when she blasted her 13th four-bagger of the year in the top of the fourth frame. This marks the fifth straight game that deLong has hit at least one home run and she now has six homers during the streak.

Rutgers jumped on top of the Hawks with two runs in the bottom of the first and one in the second off of MU starter Melissa Mehrer (Florence, N.J./Florence Township). The sophomore, who fell to 11-4 with the loss against RU, gave up six hits and three earned runs in three innings of work. Senior Kristine Sawlsville (Wyomissing, Pa./Wilson) pitched the final three innings in relief, surrendering seven hits and three earned runs. She logged three strikeouts and did not walk a batter.

The top three batters in the Scarlet Knights lineup, Amanda Shaw, MicKenzie Alden and Amanda Heller, went a combined 7-for-10 with three runs scored and two RBI.

Senior Lee Simonetti (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Our Lady of Lourdes) and junior Alexa Ferrara (West Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell) each went 1-for-3 for the Blue and White.

The Hawks return to action on Saturday when they host Fairleigh Dickinson in a NEC doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1:00 pm.