Niagara (12-19, 3-6 MAAC) - 2
Monmouth (16-23, 7-4 MAAC) – 6
Niagara (13-19, 4-6 MAAC)- 6
Monmouth (16-24, 7-5 MAAC) – 3
WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – After a complete game win from pitcher Amanda Riley and two RBI singles from Justene Reyes in game one, the Monmouth University softball team dropped game two to MAAC opponent Niagara to earn its fourth straight split. The Hawks pulled away from the Purple Eagles in game one, scoring four total runs in the fifth and sixth innings to earn the 6-2 win. In game two, Niagara built a three-run lead after the top of the sixth inning, and got the final six outs to eventually win 6-3. Monmouth's record now stands at 16-24 (7-5 MAAC) on the season, and will host conference foe Canisius tomorrow for a doubleheader.
NOTES AND QUOTES
“I was really pleased with our performance in game one. We did a lot of things right and found ways to push our runners across. We attacked and stayed aggressive. In game two, we got ourselves into a little bit of a hole. We started to get out of it a little bit, but they kept fighting back. We started to adjust, but we have to adjust a little bit quicker.” - Monmouth head coach Shannon Salsburg
-Before the games, Monmouth honored three seniors. Sydney Underhill, Rachel Shotzbarger, and Justene Reyes have combined for a whopping 494 games in their careers.
-Monmouth got on the board first in game one, as Justene Reyes hit an RBI single to score Chloe Howerth. The Hawks added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth, after leftfielder Jasmine Higa hit an RBI double to right center to score pinch runner Tyranny Royster.
-In the bottom of the fifth inning, Rachel Shotzbarger hit an RBI double to score Reyes, before Kayla Rosado ripped an RBI single scoring Shotzbarger and giving Monmouth the 4-0 advantage.
-Niagara scored its first two runs in the top of the sixth inning, but the Hawks answered with two of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Morgan Balderas scorched an RBI double to right center, and Reyes hit another RBI single.
-In game two, Niagara scored three runs in the top of the first inning, all coming with two outs. Monmouth answered with two runs in the bottom of the first, including an RBI triple from Balderas and an RBI from Shotzbarger to score Balderas.
-The Purple Eagles tacked on a run in the top of the third and top of the sixth to go ahead 5-2. In the bottom of the sixth, Balderas continued her strong day and singled through the left side to score Higa.
-Niagara added another run to go up 6-3 in the top of the seventh, and the Hawks could not score in the bottom half for the teams to split the day.
-Before and throughout the games, Monmouth Softball honored Ally Stoltzmann, whose traumatic accident in the fall of 2015 ended her career in West Long Branch. While home in Arizona recovering, Monmouth Softball and the Monmouth Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, led by junior Katie Baron, created the “Play 4 Ally” foundation. Stoltzmann threw out the first pitch before the game after joining her teammates on the field, while both teams and spectators wore “Play 4 Ally” shirts and wristbands.
NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Underhill ranks sixth in program history for wins with 48, needing just one more to move into a tie for fourth. Her 104 games started throughout her career ranks first in program history. The senior has racked up 615 innings pitched during her tenure, which now ranks third all-time. Her 362 strikeouts currently ranks fourth in program history.
-Shotzbarger broke the program record for doubles earlier this season, and currently has 48 in her career. She ranks third all-time in runs batted in with 112. In total, she has compiled a career batting average of just less than .300, 154 hits, 92 runs, and 17 home runs. The senior has played in 170 career games, including 169 starts.
-Reyes started her 175th straight game today. She has complied 122 RBI's in that span, which ranks third in program history. Her 20 career home runs ranks tied for fifth all-time, while her 35 career doubles ranks tied for sixth in program history. Her career batting average currently sits at .326, thanks to 158 career hits. As a senior, she currently leads the team in batting average, doubles, home runs, RBI's, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, and walks.
-Amanda Riley threw her 10th complete game of the season, earning the game one win to improve her record to 10-15 on the season. The junior gave up just two runs while striking out six batters.
UP NEXT
The Hawks will host two more games tomorrow against Canisius. The Golden Griffins swept Rider today by a total score of 28-6.
