WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. ? The Monmouth University softball team dropped a pair of Northeast Conference contests to Sacred Heart, 5-4 and 4-3 on Sunday afternoon. The Hawks fall to 20-13-1 overall this year and 8-6 in the league while the Pioneers improve to 15-26 and 9-7 in the conference.
With MU trailing 5-2 with two outs in the first game, senior Nichole Alvarez (Brick, N.J./Brick Township) laced a single up the middle with the bases loaded, scoring senior Lee Simonetti (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Our Lady of Lourdes) and sophomore Emily deLong (Rothschild, Wosc./DC Everest). Pinch runner Dara Palms (Humble, Tex./Humble) was waved around and tried to score but was cut down at the plate to end the game.
Alvarez got the first contest's scoring started when she singled home sophomore deLong who had reached with a single.
Sacred Heart put runners on the corners with one out in the top of the fifth off of Monmouth starter Melissa Mehrer (Florence, N.J./Florence Township) and took a 3-1 lead on three RBI singles. The Hawks drew to within a run in the bottom of the frame when senior Lee Simonetti (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Our Lady of Lourdes) doubled to right center, plating pinch-hitter Abby Martin (Oswego, N.Y./Oswego), who had doubled as well.
The Pioneers regained a two-run advantage when Betsy Harvey led off the top of the sixth inning with a home run to right field, her third round-tripper of the season. Alvarez led off the bottom of the sixth frame with a triple to right field, but the Hawks were unable to push her across, keeping the score 4-2 in favor of SHU.
Mehrer took the loss for Monmouth in the first game. She surrendered eight hits and five runs, four of which were earned, to go along with five strikeouts and one walk. SHU ace Jen Russell got the win in the first game, striking out 11.
Simonetti went 3-for-4 in the first game while deLong was 2-for-2 with two runs scored. Alvarez went 3-for-4 with three runs driven in the first contest.
With the Hawks down 3-1 with two away in the bottom of the fifth frame of the second game, junior Jessica Nicola (South Amboy, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial) laced a two-run triple to left center to tie the contest up.
The game remained 3-3 until the top of the seventh inning when Amanda Bradley singled home Jessica Perez, who slid home just ahead of the Nicola tag at the plate, to give the Pioneers a 4-3 lead.
Senior pitcher Kristine Sawlsville (Wyomissing, Pa./Wilson) was cruising along until, with two outs in the top of the fourth, Harvey drilled a one-hopper off of her left collarbone. She was forced to come out of the contest, giving way to Martin. With no outs in the fifth, Martin took a Taylor Froelich line drive to the left shin, but remained in the contest. Mehrer came on in relief of her, pitching the final 2.2 innings, giving up four hits and an earned run. She dropped the second game to fall to 11-7 on the season.
deLong went 2-for-4 in the second game with a run scored, while went 2-for4 with three RBI. Alvarez walked three times in nightcap for the Hawks.
Russell won the second game as well for the Pioneers, improving to 11-14 on the season.
Monmouth returns to action on Tuesday when they visit in-state rival Rider for a nonconference doubleheader. First pitch is set for 3:00 pm.
