Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. –Jill Freese (Oxford, Pa./Oxford Area) had a home run, two doubles, three RBI's and three runs scored in Game 2 as the Monmouth University softball team split a conference-opening doubleheader with hOURglass rival Rider Sunday afternoon at Herb & Joan Young Field. The Broncs scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to take Game 1, 3-1, before the Hawks won a slugfest, 12-9, in Game 2. With the split, the Hawks are now 5-12 (1-1 conference), while the Broncs move to 6-13 (1-1 conference).

Vanessa Cardoza (Santa Ana, Calif./Ocean View), Kayleena Flores (Atwater, Calif./Buhach Colony) and Emma Hill (Rae, Mo./King City [Highland C.C.]) added three hits apiece. Cardoza scored three runs, while Hill crossed the plate twice and added a stolen base and an RBI. Flores scored once. Ashalynn Umiamaka (Kapolei, Hawaii/Kapolei [Eastern Arizona]) and Rachel Shotzbarger (Saugus, Calif./Saugus) had two hits apiece, with Umiamaka doubling, driving in two and scoring once. Shotzbarger had an RBI and a run scored.

Chloe Howerth (Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah) doubled, drove in two, scored a run and stole a base, while Justene Reyes (Carson, Calif./Warren) added a base hit, two RBI's and a run scored. Raelynn Galindo (Yorba Linda, Calif./Yorba Linda) also chipped in with a two-run single in Game 2.

Sydney Underhill (Temecula, Calif./Chaparral) pitched 8.0 innings over the two games, taking the Game 1 loss after surrendering three unearned runs. She also earned the save in Game 2, entering into a bases-loaded situation with no outs in the sixth. She allowed a grand slam to cut the Hawks' lead to one, but that was all she'd allow the Broncs in holding on for the save. All told, she allowed four runs, one earned, on four hits and three walks, striking out two.

After Underhill went the distance in Game 1, allowing three unearned runs on three hits and two walks while striking out two, Amanda Riley (Tracy, Calif./John C. Kimball) got the Game 2 start in the circle. Riley was relieved after 3.2 innings before she could go the requisite 4.0 innings to earn the win. She allowed five runs, three earned, on five hits and five walks. She struck out one. Breanna Sniffen (Winter Garden, Fla./West Orange [St. Petersburg College]) went 1.1 innings to take the win, allowing three earned runs on a hit and four walks. Underhill went the final two innings, allowing one earned run on a grand slam and one walk in the sixth before inducing six-straight groundouts to end the game.

The Hawks immediately jumped out in front, 1-0, in the top of the first of Game 1 when Hill singled, stole second, took third on a Howerth groundout and scored on Umiamaka's RBI double. Following four scoreless innings, the Broncs scored all three of their runs in the bottom of the sixth. A pair of errors and a stolen base to open the inning put runners on second and third before Gina McCool tied the game with a single to right. After a groundout put runners on second and third with two outs, Allysen Breeden delivered a two-run single up the middle that proved to be the difference.

Rider pitcher Delaney DeMello worked around a leadoff single by Reyes to work a scoreless seventh and close out the complete-game victory.

Rider struck first in Game 2 with a run in the bottom of the first on Emily Cottrell's two-out RBI single to left. The Hawks responded in the top of the third with four runs. Shotzbarger led off with a single and Freese immediately followed with an RBI double to tie the game. An error and an infield single by Hill loaded the bases for Howerth, who plated Freese with a fielder's choice to right that erased Hill at second. Umiamaka followed with an RBI single to left and another run scored on Reyes' fielder's choice to give Monmouth a 4-1 lead.

Monmouth tacked on two more runs in the fourth. Flores led off the inning with a single and scored on Freese's two-run blast to left. But Rider responded with four runs in the bottom of the frame to cut the Monmouth lead to 6-5. Breeden hit a two-run home run to left and Dana Sensi later delivered a two-run double to left center, chasing Riley from the ballgame. Sniffen came on and, after issuing a walk, got McCool to ground out to end the inning.

A Reyes walk with one out and a two-out infield single by Flores in the top of the fifth set the table for Shotzbarger, who singled to right as the Hawks extended to a 7-5 lead. Monmouth tacked on three more runs in the top of the sixth. Cardoza and Hill started the inning with singles before moving to second and third on a Howerth groundout. Umiamaka walked to load the bases and Reyes grounded out to make it 8-5 Monmouth. Galindo then delivered a two-out, two-run pinch-hit single to left to push the Hawks lead to 10-5.

Monmouth would need every bit of that insurance as Sniffen issued two walks and a single to open the bottom of the sixth, handing Underhill a bases-loaded, no-out jam. The sophomore southpaw was greeted rudely as Cottrell hit a grand slam to cut the Hawks' lead to 10-9. McCool then walked, but Underhill got six straight groundouts to end the game. Being that Underhill entered the game in the sixth with the tying run in the on-deck circle, she was credited with a save.

Monmouth added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Freese doubled with one out, while Cardoza singled and moved to second on the throw as Freese bluffed toward the plate. Hill grounded out to score Freese before Howerth hit a two-out double to left to score Cardoza.

The Hawks return to non-conference play Wednesday, when they play host to Drexel. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. at MU Softball Park.