WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - The Monmouth University softball team split its Northeast Conference doubleheader with Saint Francis University on Sunday, losing the first game, 2-1 and winning the second contest, 6-1 at the MU Softball Park. The Hawks are now 15-14 overall and 6-4 in the league, while the Red Flash move to 8-28 overall and 1-7 in the conference.

In the first game, MU starter Lauren Sulick (Canfield, Ohio /Canfield) took the loss despite only allowing six hits and two earned runs in a complete-game effort. She struck out three and only walked one batter in the loss. In the second game, she improved to 14-9 on the season after allowing two hits and one earned run in six innings of work. Junior Michelle Rapp (Hammonton, N.J. /Hammonton) pitched a scoreless seventh to end the second contest.

In the second contest, MU's 1-5 batters provided the offensive firepower, going 8-for-15 with four runs scored and two RBIs to pace the attack. Christine Scherr (Nazareth, Pa. /Nazareth Area) went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored in the leadoff spot, while Tish Derer (Philadelphia, Pa. /Saint Basil Academy) and Emily deLong (Rothschild, Wisc. /DC Everest) each went 1-for-3 with a run scored. Kate Kuzma (Freehold, N.J. /Colts Neck) recorded a 2-for-2 performance in the second game, adding a two-RBI single in the sixth, while Kayla Weiser (Vandergrift, Pa. /Kiski Area) went 2-for-3.

Freshman Alicia DeSanto (Upper Darby, Pa. /Upper Darby) added a single and run scored in the second game, while classmate Kaitie Schumacher (San Diego, Calif. /Scripps Ranch) scored a run in the second inning.

In the first game, Chelsea Paprocki (Manassas, Va. /Forest Park) scored MU's run, cutting Saint Francis' lead in half with one out in the sixth frame, on a single from Kuzma.

MU returns to action on Wednesday when it hosts Seton Hall in a nonconference twinbill. First pitch is set for 3:00 pm.