Monmouth (24-14, 14-1 MAAC) – 3
Niagara (15-29, 7-8 MAAC) – 1
 
(8 inn.)
Monmouth (25-14, 15-1 MAAC) –  2
Niagara (15-30, 7-9 MAAC) – 1
 
 
SYRACUSE, NY – Led by two home runs from senior Alex Holzman and a clutch hit from senior Katie Baron in the eighth inning of game two, the Monmouth University softball team swept Niagara on Wednesday, 3-1 and 2-1. The Hawks have now won 17 of their last 18 games, and improve to 15-1 in MAAC play. Monmouth needs to win at least one of its last four games to clinch their first conference regular season title since 1999. Holzman went 3-for-6 on the day with a home run in each game. With game two tied in the top of the eighth inning, senior Chloe Howerth hit a double, and Baron brought her home with an RBI double immediately after. Senior Amanda Riley picked up two wins on the day, pitching 10.0 total innings while giving up no earned runs and striking out 13 batters. Riley improved to 9-0 in MAAC play with a 0.72 ERA. With a 25-14 (15-1 MAAC) record on the season, the team will host Marist on Saturday and Siena on Sunday to close the regular season.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
"Conference games are never easy, so it was great to see us pull out two close wins. We battled all day both offensively and defensively, and games like these are always great experience for the upcoming MAAC tournament. Both pitchers [Amanda Riley and Megan Stauffer] executed in the circle, and we were able to come up with hits when we needed to. We're looking forward to closing the regular season with two series at home, and will get right back at it with preparation tomorrow." – Monmouth head coach Shannon Salsburg
-In game one, Niagara took the early 1-0 lead with a bases-loaded walk.
-The Hawks quickly answered, as sophomore Deangie Jimenez launched a solo home run to center field, tying the game at one.
-In the top of the fourth, Holzman launched her sixth home run of the season to give Monmouth the 2-1 lead.
 -Freshman Katie Harrington put Monmouth ahead 3-1 in the top of the sixth, as her RBI single scored freshman Morgan Maziarz. Maziarz pinch ran for Holzman, who led off the inning with a double.
-Riley pitched a familiar stat line, going all seven innings and giving up just two hits and zero earned runs. She struck out 11 batters.
-In game two, Holzman once again hit a solo home run, this time in the top of the second to put the Hawks ahead 1-0.
-In the bottom of the fifth, Niagara reached on an error, and the runner advanced to third. The Purple Eagles later tied the game with an RBI single.
-Niagara put a runner on third with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but Riley got out of the jam with a ground out and a strikeout.
-With one out in the top of the eighth, Howerth doubled to left field. Baron was next up, and brought her home with an RBI double to right field. Monmouth took the 2-1 lead in the extra frame.
-In the bottom of the eighth, Niagara put runners on first and second with two outs, but Riley once again closed the door.
 
NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Holzman has now homered in three straight games, and ranks 8^th in Monmouth history with 17 career home runs.
-After going without a home run in her first 82 career games, Jimenez has now hit two in her last three games.
-Baron leads the team in batting average (.419), hits (52), doubles (12), home runs (8), and RBI (34).
-Riley increased her program record to 616 career strikeouts (the previous record was 497).
-Stauffer pitched 5.0 solid innings in game two, giving up just one run, which was not an earned run.
-Howerth picked up another run on the day, and leads the team with 35 this season.
- Harrington picked up two hits and an RBI on the day.
 
UP NEXT
For the final two games of the regular season, the Hawks will host Marist on Saturday and Siena on Sunday.