WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.-The Monmouth softball team (7-2) takes down both the Cornell Big Red (2-3) and the George Mason Patriots (6-9) by respective scores of 2-1 and 3-1 at the George Mason Softball Complex Saturday afternoon. The Hawks now boast a season 7-2 record.
"A win is a win, but we need to be better on offense as we leave too many people on base", head coach Louie Berndt said of today's close games. "Lauren got stronger as she went. There was good pitching today, and our defense needs to play at our level every game. We are making unnecessary mistakes."
Freshman Cerissa Rivera (Westminster, Calif./Fountain Valley) recorded the win against the Big Red. She went the full seven innings and notched seven hits, six strikeouts and one walk. Senior Lauren Sulick (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) went the complete second game, tallying five hits, six strikeouts and four walks.
Sophomore Kayleena Flores (Atwater, Calif./Buhach Colony) started the second inning against the Big Red with a single and advanced to second base on a fielding error by third baseman Taylor Goodin. She was then brought home by junior Alicia DeSanto (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby), who reached base by another Goodin fielding error, giving the Hawks the early 1-0 lead.
Cornell tied the game in the fourth inning when Kristen Towne doubled down the left field line and was batted in by a double from Erin Belles. The Hawks retook the lead when senior Tish Derer (Philadeliphia, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) rocked a two-out single down the middle. At the next at-bat, senior Kaitie Schumacher (San Diego, Calif./Scripps Ranch) singled and advanced to second on the throw, allowing Derer to score from first and upping the lead to 2-1. Monmouth never relinquished the lead the rest of the game.
The second game against Mason saw the Hawks strike first, as Derer singled to second base. Schumacher then reached first on a fielder's choice as Derer was thrown out at second by Brooke Blankenship. Schumacher then advanced to second on a passed ball. Senior Kayla Weiser (Vandergrift, Pa./Kiski Area) rocked a double to left center, bringing Schumacher home and giving Monmouth the 1-0 lead against Mason.
Senior Kate Kuzma (Freehold, N.J./Colts Neck) singled to left field and brought Weiser home, extending the lead to 2-1 in the first inning. Kuzma then stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball, and Flores was walked the next at-bat. The inning ended before the Hawks could further extend the early game lead.
Mason got on the board in the top of the third inning as Lauren McColgan singled. A one-out sacrifice bunt by Tiffany Webb put McColgan on second. Blankenship was walked, then Megan Blank singled down the left field line, bringing McColgan around the bases and narrowing the lead to 2-1.
With two outs the sixth inning, freshman Nikki Sandelier (Turnersville, N.J./Washington Township) was walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch to DeSanto, and then proceeded to third by a fielding error on catcher Angela Maioran. Sandelier then scored on a passed ball as DeSanto was walked, extending the Hawks' lead to 3-1. Mason was unable to tally any more runs, giving Monmouth the three-game win streak.
The Hawks will face off against the Longwood Lancers Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. The Hawks will look to extend their win streak to four and complete the tournament sweep.
