WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Monmouth University Head Softball Coach Shannon Salsburg has announced the additions of pitcher Alyssa Irons (Jefferson Area/Hofstra/Rock Creek, OH) and catcher Heather Lally (Freehold Township/Howell, NJ), who will join the team ahead of the 2019 season.

Irons appeared in 29 games for Hofstra in 2017, winning seven games and striking out 69 batters. She was selected to the Colonial Athletic Association All-Rookie Team following the campaign, which included two complete-game shutouts in 14 starts. Three of her first four starts came against opponents that were nationally ranked or receiving votes, and the righty finished the season strong by picking up a win and a save in the conference tournament. At Jefferson Area High School, Irons was a three-time Ashtabula County Player of the Year, a First Team All-Ohio selection, a member of the ADA/USA National Team pool as a senior, and helped lead the team to three straight regionals appearances.

Lally was a four-year varsity letter winner at Freehold Township. She compiled a .904 fielding percentage as a catcher, and at the plate batted .256 with 15 doubles, four home runs, and five stolen bases in her career. In 2016, she batted .324 and helped lead her team to a White Division title in the Monmouth County Tournament. In addition to her high school team, Lally also played for the NJ Intensity. In the classroom, she was a member of both the National Honors Society and the Latin Honors Society, graduating with a 4.02 GPA.

Irons and Lally will join Lindsey Baron (St. John Vianney/Matawan, NJ), Antonia Browning (The Charter School of Wilmington/Newark, DE), and Danielle Dominik (Kingsway Regional/Woodwich, NJ) as newcomers to the 2019 roster.

Monmouth's historic 2018 season came to a close in May after falling to #10 Tennessee and Ohio. The team ended the year 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.