Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Monmouth University softball team scored 14 runs on 22 hits and allowed just one run in a doubleheader sweep at Iona Wednesday afternoon. Amanda Riley (Tracy, CA/John C. Kimball) hurled a complete-game shutout and helped herself with three hits in a six-inning 10-0 Game 1 victory, before the Hawks scored three runs in the top of the seventh to win Game 2, 4-1. With the sweep, the Hawks improve to 15-12 (4-0 MAAC), while the Gaels slip to 6-19 (0-2 MAAC).

Justene Reyes (Carson, CA/Warren) paced the Hawks' offense with five hits and three RBI's, while Riley, Nicole Wieczorek (Oakdale, NY/Connetquot) and Emma Hill (Rae, MO/King City [Highland C.C.]) added three hits apiece. Hill was 4-for-4 in stolen-base attempts to improve to 20-for-20 on the year, while also scoring three runs. Wieczorek hit a two-run triple and scored twice. Katie Baron (Matawan, NJ/St. John Vianney) chipped in with a pair of hits, while Chloe Howerth (Roscoe, IL/Hononegah) had a two-run triple and two runs scored. Brooke Redmond (Cooksville, MD/Glenelg) sparked the Hawks' seventh-inning Game 2 rally with a leadoff double.

Riley pitched a complete-game shutout for the second time in as many starts and giving her 15.2 consecutive scoreless innings. She scattered three hits and two walks, while striking out six in 6.0 innings. Sydney Underhill (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) went the distance in Game 2, allowing just one earned run on five hits and a walk, while striking out four in 7.0 innings pitched. Iona batters hit just .167 (8-for-48) against Monmouth pitching on the day.

“Today was a great team effort to get a sweep on the road in conference,” said Monmouth Head Coach Shannon Salsburg. “Up and down the line-up, everyone contributed. Brooke came up big for us, being aggressive to start our rally in Game 2. And our pitchers and catchers are really working well to set up the opponents' hitters. They continue to grow and are gaining an understanding of how to get outs.”

In Game 1, the Hawks scored single runs in the first and fourth innings before blowing it open with an eight-run sixth. Hill walked, stole second and third and scored on Reyes' two-out single to right center in the top of the first
Wieczorek drew another leadoff walk in the fourth and the Hawks again made Iona pay. Riley followed with a single and both runners moved up on a Baron groundout. Wieczorek then scored on Hill's groundout to second to make it 2-0 Monmouth.

The Hawks scored all eight of their runs in the top of the sixth with two outs. Howerth ripped a two-run triple to center, scoring Riley and Baron. After a Rachel Shotzbarger (Saugus, CA/Saugus) walk, Reyes singled to left to score Howerth. An Iona error on a pop fly for the would-be third out allowed the floodgates to open, as Shotzbarger scored on the play and Monmouth added four additional runs. Jill Freese (Oxford, PA/Oxford Area) roped a double off the left-field wall to score Reyes before Wieczorek made the Gaels pay for playing shallow in center with a line-drive, two-run triple. Riley, who started the rally with a double, capped the scoring with an RBI single.

Riley finished off the complete-game shutout by retiring the side in order in the bottom of the sixth.

The Hawks picked up a run in the top of the first in Game 2. Hill reached on a bunt single, took second on a sacrifice bunt from Howerth and scored from second when Reyes laced a two-out RBI single through the right side. Iona evened the score in the bottom of the inning on a solo home run to left center from Jordan Courage.  

After five scoreless frames, the Hawks struck for three runs in the top of the seventh. Redmond led off with a double off the left-field fence, before pinch runner Jasmine Higa (Apple Valley, CA/Apple Valley) took third on Baron's sacrifice bunt. Following a pitching change, Hill laid down a bunt. Higa couldn't advance home, but the Gaels had no play on the speedy Hill at first. Howerth followed with another bunt and an errant throw into right field allowed all three runners to score. Underhill pitched around a leadoff single to close out the victory in the bottom of the seventh.  

The Hawks return to action Saturday at noon, when they travel to longtime league foe Quinnipiac for a doubleheader.