JACKSONVILLE, Fla.-The Monmouth softball team concluded their spring break trip with a 2-0 loss and a 4-3 loss against the University of North Florida Thursday afternoon. The Hawks now have a 9-8 preseason record, while the UNF Ospreys have a 22-9 record on the year.
Head coach Louie Berndt said, "we played very well defensively and look forward to playing at home."
The Hawks were unable to generate any offense in the first game as sophomore pitcher Kaylie Wallace pitched a complete game shutout with four hits, nine strikeouts, one walk and improved her record to 9-4 on the season. Freshman Cerissa Rivera (Westminster, Calif./Fountain Valley) pitched the full six innings, tallying five hits, two runs (one earned), one strikeout and one walk. Her record is now 4-2 on the year.
Junior Alicia DeSanto (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) led Monmouth with two hits in three at-bats in game one. Senior Kayla Weiser (Vandergrift, Pa./Kiski Area) and junior Shannon Fitzgerald (Santa Clarita, Calif./Valencia) each tallied one hit apiece.
In the third inning, a triple by sophomore Kelly Wilson sent senior pinch runner Megan David from second across home, giving the Ospreys the early 1-0 lead. North Florida didn't score again until the sixth inning when a drawn walk by junior Ashley Holton put her on base, where she advanced to second on a wild pitch. A single through the left side by senior Jackie Reese put Holton at third, and when Reese stole second, Holton crossed the plate on a fielding error by sophomore Kayleena Flores (Atwater, Calif./Buhach Colony). The Hawks were unable to generate any offense in the top of the seventh, giving North Florida the game one victory.
In game two, North Florida got on the board early when junior Danica Mandarano reached base on a throwing error by Derer. A double by Kelly Wilson sent Mandarano to third, and then a lineout to first by Kelly Holton followed by a Kaitie Schumacher (San Diego, Calif./Scripps Ranch) throwing error sent Mandarano across the plate. A wild pitch by senior Jordan Barnett (Eads, Colo./Eads [Garden City C.C.]) sent Wilson home from third, giving North Florida the 2-0 early lead.
In the second, a Fitzgerald single and a sacrifice bunt by both Flores and freshman Nikki Sandelier (Turnersville, N.J./Washington Township) sent Fitzgerald to third. A single by senior Christine Scherr (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth Area) sent Fitzgerald across the plate, cutting Monmouth's deficit to 2-1.
Monmouth got on the board in the fifth after Derer singled through the left side and advanced to second on a DeSanto lineout to third. A Schumacher single to third base sent Derer to third, and a groundout to second by senior Kayla Weiser (Vandergrift, Pa./Kiski Area) sent Schumacher to second and Derer across home, tying the game at two runs apiece. A Fitzgerald single advanced Schumacher to third, where she almost scored but was thrown out by right fielder Lexi Taylor.
In the top of the eighth, Schumacher was placed on second, where she then scored on a Weiser single through the right side, where she advanced to second on the throw. The Hawks were unable to produce any additional offense in the inning. Taylor was placed on second to start the inning for the Ospreys, and junior Brittany Hendrix singled to second, advancing Taylor to third. A Mandarano groundout sent Hendrix to second, then both her and Taylor were brought home by a Wilson single. North Florida won the second game 4-3.
Monmouth opens Northeast Conference play with matches from Fairleigh Dickinson University and Bryant University. First pitch for the match-up against the Knights is 1:00 p.m. Saturday, March 23 and 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 24 against the Bulldogs.
