Niagara Purple Eagles (1-15, 0-2 MAAC) – 0
Monmouth Hawks (14-10, 1-0 MAAC) – 6
 
Niagara Purple Eagles (1-16, 0-2 MAAC) – 2
Monmouth Hawks (15-10, 2-0 MAAC) – 7
 
 
WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Led by sophomore pitcher Alyssa Irons' perfect game in the opener and three RBI each from juniors Sam Tomasetti and Kayla Rosado in game two, the Monmouth University softball team swept Niagara on Friday, 6-0 and 7-2. Irons went all seven innings without allowing a hit, a run, or a walk, registering the program's first perfect game since 2006. Tomasetti went 5-for-5 with four RBI and three runs on the day, while Rosado went 5-for-8 with six RBI and two doubles to lead the Hawks to a 2-0 record in the MAAC. Dating back to last season, the program has now won 24 of its last 25 conference games including the postseason. Monmouth improves to 15-10 on the 2019 season, and will host Canisius tomorrow for a doubleheader starting at noon.      
 
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
 
"Today was an awesome way to start conference play. Obviously in game one, Alyssa set the tone. To throw a perfect game was awesome, and she did a great job of attacking the hitters all day. Our defense made the routine plays. In game two, I was proud of how we responded after Niagara jumped out to a lead. We knew [Niagara] was a feisty team and knew they wouldn't quit. We focused on putting more and more runs on the board instead of settling, and that's what it's going to take as we move through the MAAC."- Monmouth head coach Shannon Salsburg
 
-In game one, Monmouth got on the board early. Freshman Lindsey Baron led off with a triple to left field, and Tomasetti wasted no time bringing her home with an RBI single.
-Irons struck out the side in the top of the third.
-In the bottom of the third, Baron walked with two outs. After a Tomasetti walk, Rosado put the Hawks up 2-0 with an RBI single to left field.
-The Hawks scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth to go ahead 6-0. Junior Deangie Jimenez hit a two-RBI single to score sophomore Katie Harrington and junior Amanda Hopeck, and Rosado followed it up with a two-RBI single of her own to score Jimenez and Irons.
-Irons shut the door in the final three innings, eventually notching the perfect game and no-hitter.
 
-In game two, Niagara went ahead 1-0 with an RBI single in the top of the first.
-Monmouth quickly answered, as Rosado belted an RBI double to right center to score Baron.
-The Purple Eagles regained the lead in the top of the third, hitting an RBI double to right center.
-Monmouth scored six straight runs between the third and sixth, starting with a Harrington RBI groundout to tie the game at two.
-Tomasetti connected for a two-RBI triple in the fourth, followed by another Rosado RBI double.
-Tomasetti sealed the win in the bottom of the sixth, scoring Baron with an RBI single to center field.
-Irons came in to pitch the final 3.1 innings, giving up just one hit and no runs.
 
NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Monmouth has won 18 of its last 20 home contests.  
-Tomasetti increased her RBI total to 17, which leads the team.
-Rosado is now batting .347 on the year with 25 hits, both of which lead the team.
-Baron led off each game today with a triple and scored a team-high five runs.
-Irons pitched her 14^th complete game of the season in 15 starts. Her ERA now stands at 1.65, and she has struck out 85 batters in 106 innings.
-Sophomore Lilly Robles earned her third win of the year.
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks will host Canisius on Saturday to continue MAAC play. The doubleheader is slated to begin at noon.