Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – The Monmouth University softball team hit five home runs, including a pair of grand slams, to sweep Manhattan, 8-0 (5 inn.) and 10-7, Sunday afternoon at MU Softball Park. With the sweep, the Hawks improve to 20-13 (9-1 MAAC), while the Jaspers slip to 18-14 (4-4 MAAC).

Rachel Shotzbarger (Saugus, CA/Saugus) had three hits, including a grand slam, a team-best seven RBI's and two runs scored on the day. Jill Freese (Oxford/Oxford Area) also had three hits, including a grand slam, and two runs scored. Nicole Wieczorek (Oakdale, NY/Connetquot), Justene Reyes (Carson, CA/Warren) and Emma Hill (Rae, MO/King City [Highland C.C.]) each homered and drove in two. Hill led the Hawks with four runs scored.

Chloe Howerth (Roscoe, IL/Hononegah) had a team-high four hits to go along with two runs scored and a stolen base. Katie Baron (Matawan, NJ/St. John Vianney) added a single and two runs scored, while Brooke Redmond (Cooksville, MD/Glenelg) reached base safely in three of four at bats in Game 2 with a single, two walks and a run scored.

Amanda Riley (Tracy, CA/John C. Kimball) shut out the Jaspers in Game 1, taking a no hitter into the fifth, before finishing with a line of just two hits and a walk with three strikeouts. She also pitched 2.1 innings of relief to close out Game 2, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits and a walk. She struck out five more Manhattan batters in the brief stint. Sydney Underhill (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) earned the Game 2 victory in the circle, allowing five runs, but none of them earned, in 4.2 innings pitched. She scattered seven hits and a walk, while striking out four.

After taking a 1-0 lead on a Freese single and a Wieczorek double, both with two outs in the bottom of the second of Game 1, the Hawks erupted for five more runs in the third. Baron singled, took second on a sacrifice bunt from Hill and scored from second when Howerth singled to the pitcher, who threw errantly into right field. A fielder's choice and a walk loaded the bases for Freese, who lifted a grand slam to left to stake Monmouth to a 6-0 lead after three.

The Hawks tacked on two more runs in the fourth. A walk, an error and a Howerth single loaded the bases for Shotzbarger, who hit a two-run single to left. Manhattan broke up Riley's no-hit bid in the top of the fifth with a pair of singles. But the sophomore hurler got a pair of popouts to end the threat and the game.

In Game 2, Underhill worked a scoreless first and the Hawks immediately jumped out in front on an inside-the-park home run to left field from Hill. Monmouth scored another six runs in the second. Wieczorek led off with a single, before Redmond walked. Following a fielder's choice, Hill singled to left center to plate the first run, before  Howerth's single loaded the bases for Shotzbarger, who left no doubt with a lined shot over the left-field wall for Monmouth's second grand slam of the day. Reyes made it back-to-back jacks with a solo homer to the opposite field to extend the lead to 7-0.

The Hawks weren't done yet, plating three more runs in the third. Wieczorek led off the frame with a majestic shot to center on a pinch up in the zone. Redmond walked and Hill singled to put runners on first and second with two out. Shotzbarger singled to left center to plate pinch runner Jasmine Higa (Apple Valley, CA/Apple Valley), before Reyes hit a hot shot off the pitcher to score Hill, making it a 10-0 Monmouth lead.

Manhattan countered with a four-run fourth. However all four runs were unearned. A double, an error and a single loaded the bases for the Jaspers. Underhill managed to keep the Manhattan baserunners where they were for two batters, inducing a shallow fly ball and painting the corner for a strikeout. But pinch hitter Dominique Palagruto blooped a single over Shotzbarger's head at shortstop to score one and Emily Cutler followed with a three-run double to center to make it 10-4.

The Jaspers added a fifth run, also unearned, in the fifth on an errant pickoff throw. Things continued to get interesting in the seventh, as the Jaspers plated two more runs on three singles, a walk and a passed ball, while bringing the tying run to the plate. But Riley struck out Stephanie Reinhardt to end the game and preserve the sweep.

The Hawks return to action Tuesday, when they travel to former league foe Wagner. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 2 p.m. on Staten Island.