FAIRFAX, Va. - The Monmouth University softball team dropped its first two games at the 2011 Cherry Blossom Classic, hosted by George Mason University, on Friday afternoon. The Hawks fell to the host Patriots, 3-2 in the first game and to Howard, 5-3 in their second game of the day to fall to 7-9 on the season.
In the first game against George Mason, MU took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a run-scoring single from Kate Kuzma (Freehold, N.J. /Colts Neck). The Patriots struck for three runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
The Hawks cut the GMU lead to one in the sixth on a home run from Kaitie Schumacher (San Diego, Calif. /Scripps Ranch), but they would get no closer. Tish Derer (Philadelphia, Pa. /Saint Basil Academy) went 3-for-4 for Monmouth, tallying singles in three straight plate appearances.
Lauren Sulick (Canfield, Ohio /Canfield) took the loss against the Patriots, giving up five hits and three earned runs, adding five strikeouts and two walks.
In the second game, the Bison jumped out in front 4-0, striking for two runs apiece in the second and third innings. Howard then went up 5-2 and the Hawks only mustered one more run to fall by two.
Derer went 2-for-4, while Shannon Fitzgerald (Santa Clarita, Calif. /Valencia) also collected two hits, adding a pair of runs scored. Michelle Rapp (Hammonton, N.J. /Hammonton) took the loss in the second game, allowing 11 hits and three earned runs, adding three strikeouts in the game.
Monmouth returns to action on Saturday when it faces Albany and Cornell at the tournament.
