VILLANOVA, Pa. - The Monmouth University softball team split a nonconference doubleheader with Villanova, winning the first game, 4-0 and falling in the nightcap, 2-1 on Thursday afternoon. The Hawks now move to 5-9 on the season, while the Wildcats are now 6-13.
In the afternoon's first game, Monmouth University junior pitcher Melissa Mehrer (Florence, N.J. /Florence Township) hurled a complete-game shutout, scattering nine hits, all singles, while striking out five and walking no one. She improved to 3-5 on the season with the shutout win.
Although MU only logged three hits in the first game, it was able to strike for all four runs in the top of the sixth frame. Freshman outfielder Christine Scherr (Nazareth, Pa. /Nazareth Area) led off the inning with a walk and came around to score the game's first run on an error.
The big hit of the game was supplied by senior Alexa Ferrara (West Caldwell, N.J. /James Caldwell), who had a two-RBI single, plating junior Emily deLong (Rothschild, Wisc. /DC Everest) and senior Jessica Nicola (South Amboy, N.J. /Sayreville War Memorial). Ferrara was chased home on a run-scoring base hit to centerfield from freshman Kate Kuzma (Freehold, N.J. /Colts Neck).
In the second game, MU took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first frame when Nicola singled home deLong, who led off the game with a single. That 1-0 lead held up until the bottom of the sixth, when the Wildcats tacked on a pair of runs to secure the victory.
Sophomore Lauren Sulick (Canfield, Ohio /Canfield) took the loss in the second game despite a solid outing, giving up eight hits and one earned run in six innings of work. She struck out two Wildcats without allowing a walk, but fell to 2-2 on the season.
The Hawks return to action on Saturday when they begin Northeast Conference play by traveling to Loretto, Pa. for a 1:00 pm contest with Saint Francis University.
