WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.-Monmouth University softball opened conference play at home against the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights. Game one resulted in a 1-0 win, but FDU rallied in game two and handed the Hawks a 7-4 loss. The Hawks are 10-9 overall, and the Knights are 9-9 overall. Both teams are 1-1 in conference play.
Sophomore Kayleena Flores (Atwater, Calif./Buhach Colony) went 2-3 in game one with an RBI, and senior Tish Derer (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) went 3-3 with one run. Junior Shannon Fitzgerald (Santa Clarita, Calif./Valencia) went 3-4 in game two.
Senior Lauren Sulick (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) pitched a complete game. Senior Jordan Barnett (Eads, Colo./Eads [Garden City C.C.]) started game two, but was relieved by freshman Cerissa Rivera (Westminster, Calif./Fountain Valley). Rivera took the loss in game two.
In the first game, Derer tripled in the bottom of the first. A single by sophomore Kayleena Flores (Atwater, Calif./Buhach Colony) brought her home, giving Monmouth the early 1-0 lead. On the defensive side of the ball, Sulick had a perfect game through the fifth before Angie Nieves drew a walk to start the inning. Fairleigh Dickinson was unable to generate any further offense. Sulick went seven innings and finished with three hits, one walk and three strikeouts.
Game two saw Fairleigh Dickinson take the lead in the second inning as Katherine Slye hit a homerun. Mikayla Fernandez singled the next at-bat, then Nieves singled to right field. She advanced to second on a fielding error by senior Kate Kuzma (Freehold, N.J./Colts Neck), and Fernandez advanced to third. A double by Madelaine Wilen sent Fernandez across home plate, extending the FDU lead to 2-0.
Nieves advanced to third, and Cindy Zamudio reached on a fielder's choice to Flores. A groundout by Julia Northcutt sent Zamudio to second. Wilen moved to third, and Nieves scored, bringing the lead to 3-0 before the inning was over. In the top of the third, Fernandez reached first on a throwing error by Derer. Slye then singled to left center, but was caught stealing the next at-bat. A single by Nieves moved to Fernandez to second, then she scored on a double by Wilen, giving the Knights the 4-0 lead in the third inning.
Monmouth rallied in the bottom of the third inning as Kuzma reached on a fielding error on Zamudio. A bunt by Derer moved Kuzma to second, and she was brought home on a Flores single. Flores singled to left field, advanced to second on a fielding error by Hayley Floyd, also scoring Derer. Flores then advanced to third on a throwing error by Floyd, giving Monmouth two runs with two outs on the board. Senior Kayla Weiser (Vandergrift, Pa./Kiski Area) was hit by a pitch the next at-bat, then advanced to third as junior Kaitie Schumacher (San Diego, Calif./Scripps Ranch) reached first on a throwing error by Slye. Flores scored that same play, giving Monmouth a 4-3 deficit.
A single by Fitzgerald brought Weiser home, tying the game at four runs apiece before the inning ended. With two outs in the fifth, Fernandez hit a home run, giving Fairleigh Dickinson the 5-4 lead. In the top of the sixth inning, Wilen reached first on a Derer fielding error, then advanced to second on a Zamudio sacrifice bunt. Northcutt hit a bunt single to Rivera the next at-bat, and Wilen advanced to third. Northcutt then stole second base, and a single by Floyd brought Wilen and Northcutt across home plate, giving FDU the 7-4 lead. Monmouth was unable to recover in the seventh inning.
