Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 NEWARK, DE – Sophomore pitcher
Amanda Riley (Tracy, CA/John C. Kimball) earned a complete-game victory and hit a two-run triple in Game 1 as the Monmouth University softball team split a doubleheader at Delaware Wednesday afternoon. Monmouth took Game 1, 3-1, before the Blue Hens came away with a 1-0 win in Game 2. Hawks pitchers didn't allow an earned run on the afternoon. With the split, the Hawks move to 10-9 on the year, while the Blue Hens are now 14-10.
Justene Reyes (Carson, CA/Warren) and
Rachel Shotzbarger (Saugus, CA/Saugus) paced the Monmouth offense with three hits apiece.
Emma Hill (Rae, MO/King City [Highland C.C.]) added a pair of hits and a stolen base, while
Nicole Wieczorek (Oakdale, NY/Connetquot) doubled and drove in a run.
Chloe Howerth (Roscoe, IL/Hononegah) also chipped in with a hit and several solid defensive plays in left field.
Riley allowed just one unearned run on four hits and two walks, while striking out four in seven innings for the Game 1 victory.
Sydney Underhill (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) allowed one unearned run on four hits and a walk in six innings in Game 2.
After three scoreless frames in Game 1, Delaware got on the board first, when the leadoff batter in the bottom of the fourth reached on an error and came around to score on a sacrifice fly. But Monmouth answered in the top of the fifth with all three of their runs. A Reyes single,
Ashalynn Umiamaka (Kapolei, HI/Kapolei [Eastern Arizona]) hit-by-pitch and
Jill Freese (Oxford, PA/Oxford Area) walk loaded the bases with one out. A Wieczorek groundout plated the first run to tie the game, before Riley hit a soft line drive into shallow right that dropped between three fielders and went all the way to the right field fence for a two-run triple. The sophomore hurler would make her own run support hold up, keeping the Blue Hens off the scoreboard for the final three frames.
Pitching was the story In Game 2, as neither team scored an earned run. The Blue Hens put runners on second and third with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. Underhill induced a ground ball, but an error allowed Delaware to score its lone run of the game.
Shotzbarger led off the top of the seventh with a double to left center. But Delaware pitcher Kiersten Coffman got a popout, a flyout and a strikeout to end the Hawks' threat and the game.
The Hawks return to action Monday, when they travel to Villanova for a doubleheader. Game 1 is set to begin at 2:30 p.m.
