NEW BRITAIN, Conn. - The Monmouth University softball team swept Central Connecticut State University in a Northeast Conference doubleheader, winning 11-2 and 11-0 in five innings, at the CCSU Softball Field on Saturday afternoon. The Hawks improve to 22-14 on the season and 11-4 in the NEC, while the Blue Devils fall to 16-26 overall and 6-8 in the league.
MU pounded out at least 10 hits in each game, belting four home runs in the afternoon's first game. The Hawks also received a pair of complete-game victories in the circle from starters Melissa Mehrer (Florence, N.J. /Florence Township) and Lauren Sulick (Canfield, Ohio /Canfield). Senior Jessica Nicola (South Amboy, N.J. /Sayreville War Memorial) led the way offensively, hitting two homers and driving in six runs in the two games.
In the first game, MU took a 2-0 lead into the fourth inning, where freshman Christine Scherr (Nazareth, Pa. /Nazareth Area) connected on her first career home run, a three-run shot down the left field line. Sophomore Chelsea Paprocki (Manassas, Va. /Forest Park) added a RBI-single later in the frame, giving Monmouth a 6-0 lead.
Nicola added a solo homer in the fifth, while teammate Emily deLong (Rothschild, Wisc. /DC Everest) added a two-run shot in the sixth.
deLong went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBI's in the first game, while Nicola went 2-for-3 with two RBI's and a run. Senior Alexa Ferrara (West Caldwell, N.J. /James Caldwell) went 3-for-4, while newcomer Kate Kuzma (Freehold, N.J. /Colts Neck) added a run-scoring double in the seventh. Freshman Tish Derer (Philadelphia, Pa. /Saint Basil Academy) also added a RBI-double in the seventh.
Mehrer improved to 13-6 with the win, allowing 10 hits in the game. She struck out five and only walked one to earn the win.
In the second game, the Hawks carried a 5-0 lead into the fifth, where Nicola hit a three-run round tripper. Paprocki added a two-run single in the frame for the Hawks, who won the game in five innings due to the mercy rule.
deLong scored a pair of runs, while Nicola enjoyed a 2-for-3 game with four RBI's and two runs scored. Ferrara went 3-for-3 with two RBI's and two runs, while Paprocki went 2-for-2 with three runs driven in and one scored.
Sulick improved to 9-6 with the win, surrendering only two hits and two walks in the game, adding one strikeout.
Monmouth returns to action tomorrow when it visits Bryant at 12:00 pm in Smithfield, R.I.
