ORLANDO, Fla. - The Monmouth University softball team dropped two games on Saturday at the UCF Invitational, falling to South Alabama, 9-2 and the host Knights, 11-10 in 11 innings. The Hawks have now dropped five straight games to drop to 3-5 on the season.

MU's offensive attack was paced in the first game by sophomore Kayla Weiser (Vandergrift, Pa. /Kiski Area), who launched a solo home run to right center in the third inning. Lauren Sulick (Canfield, Ohio /Canfield) took the loss in the first game, going the distance, while allowing four earned runs. She struck out three and walked six in the game, while scattering seven hits.

The Hawks second game against the Knights saw an offensive explosion for both teams as MU fell in extra innings. MU took a 10-9 lead in the top of the 10th frame after Christine Scherr (Nazareth, Pa. /Nazareth Area) laid a squeeze bunt that scored Chelsea Paprocki (Manassas, Va. /Forest Park) from third, but UCF came back to score one in the bottom of the frame and one in the 11th for the win.

Tish Derer (Philadelphia, Pa. /Saint Basil Academy) went 2-for-4 with three runs scored, while freshman Shannon Fitzgerald (Santa Clarita, Calif. /Valencia) was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and a RBI. Kate Kuzma (Freehold, N.J. /Colts Neck) enjoyed a 2-for-6 game with two doubles, three runs batted in and a run scored and Weiser went 2-for-5 with a RBI. Every starter for Monmouth had at least a run scored or RBI in the game.

Dara Palms (Humble, Tex. /Humble) started and received a no-decision, giving up two earned runs in three innings. Sulick was saddled with the loss, pitching seven innings in relief, surrendering seven hits and six runs, two of which were earned.