WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. ? The Monmouth University softball team took two nonconference games from Manhattan, winning 7-1 and 11-2, on Wednesday afternoon. The Hawks improve to 17-9-1 with the sweep, while the Jaspers fall to 8-20 on the season.
MU sophomore Emily deLong (Rothschild, Wisc./DC Everest) enjoyed a huge offensive afternoon, hitting three home runs and driving in seven runs in the two games. She hit two home runs in the first game, including a grand slam in the second inning, and ended the second contest with a walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning. She also scored five runs on the afternoon.
In the first game, sophomore Melissa Mehrer (Florence, N.J./Florence Township) earned the win to run her record on the season to 10-3. She pitched five innings, giving up two hits and one unearned run, while striking out four and not walking a batter. Sophomore Abby Martin (Oswego, N.Y./Oswego) pitched the final two innings, allowing four hits and striking out one.
The Hawks got on the board in the bottom of the first when junior Jessica Nicola (South Amboy, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial) drove in senior Lee Simonetti (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Our Lady of Lourdes) with a fielder's choice. That paved the way for deLong's grand slam, and freshman Chelsea Paprocki (Manassas, Va./Forest Park) added a run-scoring triple in the frame as well.
Simonetti went 1-for-3 with two runs scored in the first game, while deLong was 2-for-3 with five RBI and two runs.
In the second game, senior Kristine Sawlsville (Wyomissing, Pa./Wilson) picked the win to even her season record at 6-6. She pitched five innings, surrendering four hits and two runs, one of which was earned, to go along with seven strikeouts and two walks.
Monmouth struck for three runs in the bottom of the second as Alexa Ferrara (West Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell) and Nicola contributed consecutive RBI singles. Simonetti added a sacrifice fly in the inning as well. The Blue and White tacked on two more runs in the third behind a RBI double from Martin and a run-scoring groundout from senior Candice Palumbo (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough).
Martin added a two-RBI triple in the fourth, as Nicola and Paprocki each added run-scoring hits, a double and single, respectively. deLong closed out the afternoon with a two-run home run to dead center in the fifth to cap the 11-2 mercy rule victory.
Simonetti went 2-for-3 in the second game while deLong was 2-for-2 with three runs and two RBI. Ferrara went 2-for-3 and Nicola was a perfect 2-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored. Martin enjoyed her finest offensive game of the season, going 3-for-3 with three runs driven in and two runs scored. Eight different Hawks had at least one base hit in the game.
Monmouth, winners of four straight, returns to action and Northeast Conference play on Friday when they visit Mount St. Mary's. First pitch is set for 1:00 pm.
