LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. - The Monmouth University softball team defeated Rider University, 13-7 in a nonconference contest on Wednesday afternoon at Herb and Joan Young Field. The Hawks improve to 17-19 on the season while the Broncs fall to 7-31. The two Garden State teams were supposed to play a doubleheader, but the first game was rained out.
After Rider took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, MU struck for five runs in the top of the second. The big hit in the inning was a Kayla Weiser (Vandergrift, Pa. /Kiski Area) bases-loaded double that chased home all three base runners.
The Hawks tacked on another run one frame later when Lauren Hayes (Atoka, Okla. /Durant Senior) singled home Colleen Kelly (Tallmadge, Ohio /Tallmadge), who walked. The Broncs came back and cut Monmouth's lead to 6-5 after five innings, but the Hawks outscored RU, 7-2 in the sixth and seventh frames, respectively, including five in the final stanza.
MU recorded five straight run-scoring hits in the final inning, punctuated by freshman Kaitie Schumacher's (San Diego, Calif. /Scripps Ranch) fourth home run of the season, a solo shot to center.
Eight Monmouth starters recorded at least one hit and one run in the game apiece, and MU recorded double-digit hits for the 11th time this season with its 15 base knocks. Senior Emily deLong (Rothschild, Wisc. /DC Everest) went 4-for-5 with two doubles, two RBIs and a run scored for MU.
Weiser went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and a run scored, while Schumacher went 3-for-4 with a run driven in and a run scored. Kelly, freshmen Hayes and Alicia DeSanto (Upper Darby, Pa. /Upper Darby) and sophomores Tish Derer (Philadelphia, Pa. /Saint Basil Academy) and Kate Kuzma (Freehold, N.J. /Colts Neck) each had a hit and two runs scored. Kuzma, Kelly and Hayes each tacked on a run driven in apiece as well.
Junior Lauren Sulick (Canfield, Ohio /Canfield) recorded the win, her 16th of the season. She logged a complete-game, allowing 12 hits and recording four strikeouts to go along with six walks.
MU returns to action on Saturday when it hosts Central Connecticut State at 1:00 pm. Before the Hawks take on the Blue Devils, Monmouth will hold its Senior Day celebration, honoring deLong and Dara Palms (Humble, Tex. /Humble).
