Monmouth Hawks (22-12) – 8
Columbia Lions (14-15) – 2
 
 
NEW YORK, NY – Freshman Lindsey Baron went 4-for-5 with three RBI, including her team-leading sixth home run of the season, as the Monmouth University softball team defeated Columbia on Wednesday afternoon, 8-2. Sophomore Alyssa Irons pitched her 19^th complete game of the season, improving her record to 17-7. Junior Amber Wozniak started off the scoring in the top of the first, hitting a two-RBI double. Junior Amanda Hopeck also registered two RBI, including a single and a sacrifice fly. Monmouth improves to 22-12 on the season, and the team will travel to Manhattan on Saturday for a doubleheader.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
 
"Columbia is aggressive, but Alyssa and [catcher Erika Coreth] set the tone by mixing up pitches. We played each other earlier in the season so we know a lot about each other. Defensively, we came up with a couple of plays. Offensively, from top to bottom we came out ready to hit. It's the first time in a while that I was excited to see anyone in our order, and that's what it's going to take as we continue conference season. We're going to get back to work and start getting ready for Manhattan." -  Monmouth head coach Shannon Salsburg
 
-Baron led off the game with a single to left field, and junior Sam Tomasetti was hit by a pitch in the next at bat.
-After a Monmouth strikeout, Wozniak sent a double to left center, scoring Baron and Tomasetti.
-Hopeck singled home Wozniak to give the Hawks an early 3-0 lead.
-Monmouth extended its lead to 4-0 in the top of the second. Baron doubled down the left field line to score Higa, who reached on a fielder's choice.
-Columbia cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the second. The Lions hit a two-RBI double down the left field line to make it 4-2.
-In the top of the fourth, Monmouth made it 5-2 after Baron scored on Rosado's fielder's choice.
-Baron launched a two-run home run to right center in the top of the sixth to make it 7-2 Monmouth.
-Another Hopeck RBI, this time via sacrifice fly, gave the Hawks a six-run advantage.
 
NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Irons is now 17-7 on the year with a 1.46 ERA. She has 19 complete games in 20 starts, and has struck out 128 batters on the season. Opponents are batting just .179 against her. Her 17 victories are already 7^th most in program history for a single season.
-Baron improved her batting average to .340 on the season, which ranks second on the team. She leads the team with six home runs, 12 doubles, and 33 runs.
-Wozniak earned her 20^th RBI of the season, which ranks second on the team. She has 92 career hits.
-Tomasetti now has 85 career hits.
-The Hawks are 2-0 against Columbia this season, including a 4-3 win on February 22.
 
UP NEXT
Monmouth will return to MAAC play on Saturday when it travels to Manhattan.