ORLANDO, Fla.-On Wednesday evening, Monmouth fell to the Central Florida Knights this afternoon by scores of 2-0 and 7-6. The Hawks fall to 9-6 on the season, while the Knights improve to 18-14 on the season.
The Hawks were able to only able to compile two hits in the first outing off the bats of sophomore Kayleena Flores (Atwater, Calif./Buhach Colony) and junior Kaitie Schumacher (San Diego, Calif./Scripps Ranch).
The Knights scored a run apiece in the second and third innings. Pinch runner Taylor Wagner scored on a bases loaded walk accrued by senior Lauren Sulick (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) in the second. Maddy Schroeder singled up the middle then proceeded to steal second. On a bunt by Mariah Garcia and a single by Shelby Turnier, Schroeder advanced to third and home, giving Central Florida the 2-0 lead and the win in game one.
The second game proved to favor the Knights early as they scored in the second inning. Pinch runner Lindsay Neyland scored from second on a single by Kalyn Cenal, giving Central Florida the 1-0 lead. In the fourth inning, Garcia was walked and advanced around the bases on a sacrifice bunt by Samantha McCloskey. A single by Kaitlyn Steckel and a throwing error on sophomore Vanessa Cardoza (Santa Ana, Calif./Ocean View) scored Kirsten Foster and McCloskey. The Knights took the 4-0 lead.
Central Florida expanded their lead in the fifth with a three run home run by a McCloskey home run, scoring Garcia and Novak. Senior Tish Derer (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) was batted around the bases on a single by junior Alicia DeSanto (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) and a fielder's choice reach by single Kayla Weiser (Vandergrift, Pa./Kiski Area). She then reached home by a Cardoza single. A Schumacher single scored Cardoza and Sandelier, putting the Hawks on the board.
In the seventh, walks and errors brought Derer, senior Christine Scherr (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth Area) and Weiser, giving the Hawks a chance to take the lead before the game ended. The Hawks will continue Floridian action tomorrow against North Florida at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
