HACKENSACK, N.J. – Freshman first baseman Justene Reyes (Carson, Calif./Warren) hit a two-run home run to break a 2-2 tie in the fifth inning as the Monmouth University softball team defeated Siena, 4-2, in Game 1 of a MAAC doubleheader Sunday at FDU Softball Field. The Hawks fell in Game 2, 7-2, to take a split on the day. The Hawks are now 9-11 (1-1 MAAC), while the Saints' record is now 14-15 (3-1 MAAC).  

Vanessa Cardoza (Santa Ana, Calif./Ocean View) went 4-for-7 with a double, two runs scored and two RBI's on the day, while Rachel Shotzbarger (Saugus, Calif./Saugus) went 3-for-6 with two doubles and an RBI. Lauren Howard (Orange, Calif./Foothill), Reyes and Shannon Fitzgerald (Santa Clarita, Calif./Valencia) added two hits each. Fitzgerald also went 3-for-3 in stolen-base attempts.

Sydney Underhill (Temecula, Calif./Chaparral) took the Game 1 victory, allowing two earned runs on six hits and a walk, while striking out four. She also was charged with the Game 2 loss, allowing four earned runs on four hits in 2.1 innings pitched. Breanna Sniffen (Winter Garden, Fla./West Orange [St. Petersburg College]) allowed three earned runs on four hits and two walks in 4.2 innings of relief in Game 2.

Siena struck first with single runs in the third and fourth innings of Game 1. Paige Lloyd led off the inning with a single, stole second, moved to third on a groundout and scored on Alyssa Lancaster's two-out infield single in the third. The Saints added another run on Abby Carpenter's solo home run to left to lead off the fourth.

The Hawks did all their damage in the fifth. Nikki Sandelier (Turnersville, N.J./Washington Township) led off the inning with a walk, before a throwing error on a Fitzgerald fielder's choice put runners on the corners. Fitzgerald then stole second and both runners scored on Cardoza's one-out double to right center. Reyes then hammered a two-run home run to left for what proved to be the difference in the game.

In Game 2, Underhill retired the first six batters of the game before getting into trouble in the third. Lauren Milligan led off with an infield single and went first-to-third on a Lloyd's single through the right side. After Lloyd stole second to put runners on second and third, Mikayla Powlowsky grounded to third. Milligan immediately broke from third and beat Cardoza's throw home for the first run of the game. Stephanie Viggiano then doubled to score Lloyd and Lancaster followed with a two-run single to take a 4-0 lead.

The Hawks got a run back in the bottom of the third. Fitzgerald led off with a double and scored on a two-base throwing error by the catcher. Monmouth made it 4-2 in the fifth. Cardoza scored on Shotzbarger's two-out double to left center.

But the Saints put the game away with three runs in the top of the sixth. Carpenter's RBI single and Milligan's two-run double to left center highlighted the inning for Siena.

The Hawks return to action Wednesday, when they play host to Drexel. First pitch of the single game is scheduled for 4 p.m.