(8 inn.)

Canisius (18-27, 6-7 MAAC) - 5

Monmouth (17-24, 8-5 MAAC) – 7

Canisius (18-28, 6-8 MAAC) - 2

Monmouth (18-24, 9-5 MAAC) – 8

WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ  – With game one knotted at five in the bottom of the eighth inning, junior outfielder Katie Baron launched a two-run walk-off home run to give the Monmouth University softball team the 7-5 win over Canisius, before the Hawks handled the Golden Griffins 8-2 in game two to earn the sweep. Junior catcher Alex Holzman hit three home runs in the game one win, with her last tying the game in the bottom of the seventh, and now has nine on the season. Junior pitcher Amanda Riley took the game one win with 13 strikeouts, setting the program record for strikeouts in a season as she now has 174. In game two, senior Sydney Underhill took the win after throwing a complete game, while Holzman and freshman Kayla Rosado added two RBI each.  The Hawks improve to 9-5 in the conference with the sweep, and will travel to Stony Brook tomorrow for a 4:00 start.

NOTES AND QUOTES

"These two wins were huge. After yesterday, we were disappointed in the split. To play a feisty team like Canisius that just doesn't go away, and to play that way in all aspects was just amazing. I couldn't be more proud of our team right now. I love the momentum and fight we have. We played to win today" - Monmouth head coach Shannon Salsburg

"Coach just told me I was going to have one pitch and I had to do something with it. I just put my hardest swing on it and it just happened to go out." - Monmouth junior Katie Baron on her walk-off home run

-In game one, Canisius jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first two innings with two RBI singles.

-In the bottom of the fourth inning, Holzman hit her first home run of the afternoon to left field. Junior Chloe Howerth gave Monmouth the 3-2 lead shortly after, hitting a two-RBI single to center field to score Rosado and Rachel Shotzbarger.

-One inning later, Holzman launched another home run to extend the Monmouth lead to 4-2. The junior crushed the solo shot to left field once again.

-In the top of the sixth inning, Canisius pushed three runs across the plate to take the 5-4 lead.

-With the game tied at five in the bottom of the seventh inning, Holzman belted her third home run of the game to tie it.

-After Riley pitched a scoreless eighth inning of game one, junior Katie Baron hit a walk-off two-run home run to center field to win the game, scoring Amber Wozniak who reached on a walk.

-In game two, the Hawks took the early 1-0 lead in the first inning from a Shotzbarger RBI single up the middle.

-Monmouth had a huge third inning, scoring five runs to take the 6-0 advantage. Holzman continued her terrific afternoon in the inning, hitting a two-RBI single down the left field line. Rosado then hit a two-RBI double to center field before Jasmine Higa rounded out the inning with an RBI double to score Rosado.

-The Hawks tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fourth to go up 8-0, and were one out away from taking the run-rule win before Canisius scored two on a two-RBI double.

NUMBERS CRUNCH

-Coming into the game with 161 strikeouts, Riley needed just six more to tie her own record for strikeouts in a season. She registered 13 more today and set the new program record with 174.

-After her three home run explosion, Holzman now leads the team with nine on the season, which ranks fifth in program history. The most home runs in a single season was set by Emily deLong in 2009 (15).

-In both games today, Holzman went 5-for-7 with three home runs, five RBI, and four runs.

-Baron's walk-off blast was her fourth home run of the season.

-Howerth was a combined 5-for-8 in both games today, including two runs and two RBI.

UP NEXT

The Hawks will travel to Stony Brook tomorrow for a makeup game. Monmouth will then continue MAAC play as they head to Saint Peter's on Saturday before taking on Siena on Sunday.