DELAND, Fla. - The Monmouth University softball team split its nonconference doubleheader with Stetson University on Wednesday, losing the first game, 9-1 and winning the second contest, 6-4. MU moves to 5-7 with the twinbill split, the Hatters are now 11-9.
In the second game, the Hawks used a three-run first frame to seize control. A run-scoring single from freshman Shannon Fitzgerald (Santa Clarita, Calif. /Valencia) keyed the first inning for Monmouth. Sophomore Kate Kuzma (Freehold, N.J. /Colts Neck) tacked on a RBI-single in the second, but SU responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning.
MU would add a run apiece in the fourth and the sixth, the latter on a RBI-single from senior Emily deLong (Rothschild, Wisc. /DC Everest) to solidify the victory. Freshman Alicia DeSanto (Upper Darby, Pa. /Upper Darby) went 3-for-4 at the dish, adding a run scored for Monmouth. Four other Hawks, Christine Scherr (Nazareth, Pa. /Nazareth Area), deLong, Kuzma and Fitzgerald added two hits apiece.
Lauren Sulick (Canfield, Ohio /Canfield) earned the win in the circle to even up her overall record at 4-4. She logged a complete-game, allowing eight hits and three earned runs, to go along with four strikeouts and two walks.
In the first game, deLong supplied all the offense with a solo home run to right center in the fourth inning. Dara Palms (Humble, Tex. /Humble) fell to 1-3 on the season after being saddled with the loss in the second game.
Monmouth returns to action on Friday when it visits Bethune-Cookman for a 1:00 pm doubleheader.
