Monmouth (32-16) – 0
Ohio (39-16) –  4
 
KNOXVILLE, TN – In the first elimination game of the NCAA Softball Knoxville Regional, the Monmouth University softball team fell to Ohio, 4-0. The Hawks registered six hits and five walks on the afternoon, but left 12 runners on base. Senior Chloe Howerth went 3-for-4 in the game, and ended her career with 199 hits, which ranks fifth in program history. Senior Katie Baron registered a double in the first inning, and ends the season with a .379 batting average, which led the team. Sophomore Kayla Rosado went 1-for-2 with a walk in the contest, and was 2-for-3 with two walks in two NCAA Regional contests. Senior Amanda Riley pitched six innings in the loss, ending the season with a 21-7 record. Monmouth's historic year ends with 32 wins, which are the most since 2000. The Hawks earned their first regular season championship since 1999, and made their first-ever NCAA Regional appearance after their first conference tournament championship. 
 
NOTES
"I'm really proud of the fight in our team today. They came out ready to play. It was great to see Amanda bounce back today. She and [catcher Alex Holzman] really attacked the hitters. We knew Ohio was a good hitting team. Offensively, we made some really good adjustments, but we just couldn't push runs across. If we got one or two early, it could have been a different game. At the end of the day, this was a tremendous experience for our girls and our program. This is something that we can build and grow on. As we head into the summer, we're going to focus on getting better and getting back to an NCAA Regional. It's been an amazing experience, and one that can continue to help the program go." – Monmouth head coach Shannon Salsburg
-Monmouth picked up two hits in the first inning after registering just two hits against Tennessee yesterday. Howerth hit a single through the left side, and Baron sent her to third with a double to left center. The Hawks could not capitalize, as Ohio's Danielle Stiene struck out the next two batters.
-Ohio got on the board first in the bottom of the first, hitting a two-run home run with two outs.
-In the top of the second, Holzman led off with a walk, and made it to second on time on sophomore Deangie Jimenez' bunt. The runners moved over to second and third on a wild pitch, but Stiene was able to record another strikeout to end the inning.
-Ohio took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second, as its runner stole second and advanced home on a Monmouth throwing error.
-Sophomore Amanda Hopeck sent a single to right field to lead off the top of the fourth, and went to second after freshman Katie Harrington walked. After Howerth picked up her third hit, Baron flied out to center field to end the inning.
-Ohio added a run in the bottom of the 4th on a double steal. Holzman tagged out the runner at home, but obstruction was called.
-In the bottom of the fifth, Wozniak caught a line drive and doubled up the runner at first base to end the inning.
-In the top of the seventh, Rosado and Wozniak both walked. With two outs, Holzman flied out to end the game.
 
NUMBERS CRUNCH
-The Hawks went on a 13-game winning streak during the season, which tied a program record. They also notched 11 wins in a row earlier in the year, which ties for the second-longest in program history.
-Seven different Hawks earned All-MAAC honors following the regular season, including Riley's MAAC Pitcher of the Year honor. Salsburg was named MAAC Coach of the Year in her third season after recording a 19-1 conference record.
-Riley finished her career with a program-record 666 career strikeouts (the previous record was 497). She ranks first in program history with 691.2 innings pitched, third with 55 wins, second with 149 appearances, second with 104 starts. For a single season, Riley ranks second all-time with 21 wins, second with 222 strikeouts, sixth with 37 appearances, fifth with 29 starts, and fifth with 196.2 innings.
-Baron ended her career ranked 10^th in program history with 29 doubles. In her final season, she led the team with a .383 average and 57 hits. She ranked second on the team with eight home runs and 34 RBI.
-Howerth ended her career with 131 runs, which ranks fourth in Monmouth history. Her 199 career hits rank fifth all-time.  
-Holzman ended her career ranking tied for sixth in program history with 19 home runs.
-Howerth and Wozniak both ended the season with a .311 batting average.
 
UP NEXT
Monmouth ends the season with a 32-16 record.