Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The Monmouth University softball team used a pair of big innings to sweep first-place Canisius, 8-1 and 8-4, on Janelle Moorehead Day, Saturday afternoon at MU Softball Park. Monmouth scored six runs in the bottom of the fourth in Game 1 to break a 1-1 tie and scored seven runs in the bottom of the second in Game 2 to turn a four-run deficit into a 7-4 lead. With the sweep, Monmouth moves to 14-23 (10-8 MAAC), while the Golden Griffins fall to 24-17 (13-5 MAAC).

Prior to the game, Selena and Raymond Moorehead presented a check for $25,000 to Monmouth Vice President and Director of Athletics Marilyn McNeil to endow a scholarship in their daughter's name. Janelle Moorehead was a freshman softball student-athlete at Monmouth when she tragically and suddenly passed away in January 2011.  

The wins helped the Hawks stay a game ahead of Marist, which swept Manhattan, the Griffs' partner in a tie for first place entering the day. After the dust settled on Saturday's action, Manhattan, Canisius and Fairfield remained in a three-way tie for first in the conference at 13-5, while Siena (12-6) and Iona (11-7) have clinched their positions in the tournament field. Monmouth (10-8) remains a game up on Marist (9-9) for the sixth, and final, tournament berth. The Hawks would get into the tournament by either remaining ahead of Marist in the standings or tying the Red Foxes, as long as Canisius finishes ahead of, or ties with, Manhattan.

Chloe Howerth (Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah) led the Hawks with four hits, three runs scored and two RBI's on the day. Ashalynn Umiamaka (Kapolei, Hawaii/Kapolei [Eastern Arizona]), Emma Hill (Rae, Mo./King City [Highland C.C.]) Rachel Shotzbarger (Saugus, Calif./Saugus) and Vanessa Cardoza (Santa Ana, Calif./Ocean View) each went 3-for-7. Umiamaka doubled, drove in four and scored twice, while Shotzbarger doubled, scored twice and drove in a run. Cardoza also scored two runs and added an RBI, while Hill scored once, drove in one and stole her 20th base of the year. Justene Reyes (Carson, Calif./Warren) also added three hits and an RBI. Jill Freese (Oxford, Pa./Oxford Area) and Kayleena Flores (Atwater, Calif./Buhach Colony) chipped in with two hits apiece. Freese drove in two and scored three, while Flores scored twice and hit an RBI triple.

Sydney Underhill (Temecula, Calif./Chaparral) earned the Game 1 win in the circle, allowing just one earned run on four hits and four walks. She struck out five. She'd later close out Game 2 with two scoreless innings of relief, allowing just two hits and a walk, while striking out two. Breanna Sniffen (Winter Garden, Fla./West Orange [St. Petersburg College]) picked up Game 2 win with 3.2 innings of scoreless relief. She entered in the top of the second with a runner on third and one out, but a pickoff and a strikeout got her out of the jam. She limited the Griffs to four hits and two walks and struck out one to earn her fifth win of the season.

Canisius scored first in the top of the first in Game 1 with the help of an obstruction call on a first-and-third delayed steal. The Hawks had Michelle DelPrince pegged at the plate, but were ruled to have first obstructed Lindsey Silfer between first and second. DelPrince was awarded home plate and Silfer took second to give Canisius a 1-0 lead.  

With one out in the bottom of the first, Howerth singled to the pitcher and took second on a throwing error. Umiamaka then singled through the right side to tie the game at 1-1.

Following a pair of scoreless frames, Monmouth erupted for six runs in the bottom of the fourth and didn't trail again in Game 1. Flores tripled to the gap in left center to score Shotzbarger and give Monmouth a 2-1 lead. Cardoza followed with an RBI single up the middle to make it 3-1, before Monmouth loaded the bases on a walk and an infield single. Howerth singled to center with two outs, making it 4-1 Hawks, before three more runs scored on Umiamaka's single up the middle. She was credited with two RBI's, while ill-advised throws allowed a third run to score and Umiamaka to take second.

Monmouth tacked on another insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when Umiamaka walked and scored on a Reyes double down the left field line. Underhill did the rest, inducing three groundouts in the top of the seventh to close out the victory.

In Game 2, Canisius built a four-run lead. Lindsey Silfer's double to right center scored Jessica Berzins with the first Griffs run, before Samantha Sharkey delivered a two-out, two-run single up the middle to stake Canisius to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Meghan Cuda hit an infield single and scored on Berzins' triple to center with one out in the top of the second, giving Canisius a 4-0 lead and signaling the end of the day for Monmouth starting pitcher Amanda Riley (Tracy, Calif./John C. Kimball). But Sniffen came on and the Griffs couldn't execute a squeeze play, leaving Berzins far enough off the bag for Freese to throw behind and pick her off at third. Sniffen then got a strikeout to end the inning.

Buoyed by the defensive stand, Monmouth's offense again put up a crooked number with seven runs in the bottom of the second. A Reyes single, Shotzbarger double and Flores walk loaded the bases. After a fielder's choice erased Reyes at the plate, Freese hit a high fly ball to deep left center the dropped in for a two-run single. Cardoza had to hold up at first in case the ball was caught, leaving runners on first and second. A groundout pushed the runners up to second and third before Hill dropped down an RBI bunt single to cut the deficit to 4-3. Howerth's speed then influenced an errant throw on a ground ball, allowing two more runs to score and giving Monmouth a 5-4 lead. Umiamaka and Shotzbarger later added RBI's doubles to make it 7-4 Hawks after two.

Singles from Cardoza, Freese and Hill loaded the bases in the bottom of the third before Howerth sent a line drive off the pitcher's glove to drive in a run, making it 8-4. Sniffen and Underhill kept Canisius off the scoreboard for the final four innings to close out the sweep.    
 
The Hawks close out the regular season Sunday with Senior Day at MU Softball Park against Niagara. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for noon.