WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - The Monmouth University softball team fell to Rutgers University, 5-3 on Thursday afternoon in a nonconference contest at the MU Softball Park. The Hawks fall to 20-14 on the season, while the Scarlet Knights improve to 16-26.

MU carried a 3-2 lead through a steady rain into the top of the seventh frame, where RU struck for three runs off of Hawks' starter Melissa Mehrer (Florence, N.J. /Florence Township). The Scarlet Knights received the game's winning hit when Ashley Bragg drove in a pair of runs with a two-out single to left center.

The Hawks took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the third after consecutive RBI doubles from freshman Kayla Weiser (Vandergrift, Pa. /Kiski Area), who drove in two runs with her two-bagger, and senior Alexa Ferrara (West Caldwell, N.J. /James Caldwell). Rutgers cut MU's lead to 3-2 in the top of the fifth frame, setting up the dramatic seventh inning.

Weiser led the Blue and White's offense, going 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Mehrer had her personal 11-game winning streak snapped in the game, falling to 12-6 on the season. She pitched a complete game, allowing nine hits and three earned runs, while walking three with no strikeouts.

Nicole Lindley got the win for Rutgers, pitching two innings of one-hit, scoreless relief to earn her eighth win of the season.

Monmouth returns to action on Saturday when it resumes Northeast Conference play by traveling to New Britain for a 1:00 pm doubleheader with Central Connecticut State.