(5 inn.)
Fairfield Stags (26-21, 10-9 MAAC) – 0
Monmouth Hawks (32-16, 15-4 MAAC) – 8
 
Fairfield Stags (26-22, 10-10 MAAC) – 1
Monmouth Hawks (33-16, 16-4 MAAC) – 2
 
WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Behind two more pitching gems from sophomore Alyssa Irons, an offensive explosion in game one, and a walk-off single from junior Sam Tomasetti in game two, the Monmouth University softball team swept Fairfield on Saturday, 8-0 and 2-1 in the regular season finales. Irons tossed all 12 innings on the day, giving up just one run and with 10 strikeouts. She improves to 27-10 on the season with a 1.41 ERA. In the opener, the Hawks scored five runs in the third inning on RBI's from junior Amber Wozniak, junior Amanda Hopeck, and sophomore Katie Harrington. After being the lone student-athlete honored on senior day, Jasmine Higa ended it in the bottom of the fifth inning with a two-RBI triple. Higa secured the run-rule win after advancing home on a Fairfield throwing error. In the nightcap, the Stags hit a solo home run to take the lead, but sophomore Erika Coreth tied it up with a sacrifice fly in foul territory. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, Tomasetti came through with the game-winning RBI single up the middle. Monmouth ends the regular season with a 33-16 (16-4 MAAC) record, and secured at least a first round bye at next week's MAAC Championships.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
 
"It was important to get these wins before the MAAC Tournament. No matter where it is, those are the types of games we have to win. When we play as a team, we're tough to knock out. They did a great job today, and I'm really proud of them. Now we're going to start preparing for the MAAC Tournament."  - Monmouth head coach Shannon Salsburg
-In game one, freshman Lindsey Baron and Tomasetti led off the bottom of the third with singles. After Rosado walked, Wozniak brought home two runs with a single through the left side.
-Hopeck made it 3-0 with an RBI single to right field, scoring pinch runner Morgan Maziarz.
-After Hopeck stole second, Harrington singled up with middle for two RBI's and a 5-0 lead.
-A 1-2-3 inning for Irons in the top of the fifth sent Monmouth up to bat, and Harrington led off with a single.
-Coreth reached on a fielding error to move Harrington to second, but she was thrown out at third on a fielder's choice.
-With runners on first and second, Higa connected for a two-RBI triple to right center. Jimenez and Coreth both scored on the play, and Higa advanced home after the right fielder sailed the throw over the third baseman's head.
 
-In game two, Fairfield took a 1-0 lead on a solo home run in the top of the second.
-Monmouth tied the game in the bottom of the fourth, ignited by two straight singles from Wozniak and Hopeck.
-After a Harrington sacrifice bunt to move the runners over, Coreth hit a foul ball, allowing Wozniak to tag up and score.
-Coreth began the bottom of the seventh with a double to left center. Maziarz came in to pinch run, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. After Jimenez popped up, freshman pinch hitter Danielle Dominik was hit by a pitch.
-Baron was intentionally walked to load the bases, and Tomasetti came up clutch with a single up the middle to score Maziarz.
 
NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Baron increased her program record for doubles in a season to 21. The previous mark was 17, set by Heather Gordon in 2007. She also moved into 5^th all-time with 48 runs scored. She ranks 4^th all-time with 11 home runs in a season.
-Irons is now 27-10 on the season with a 1.41 ERA. The previous program record for wins in a season was 22, set by Donna Witt in 1995. In 32 starts, she has 30 complete games, including 12 shutouts. Irons has struck out 215 batters in 238.1 innings pitched. In MAAC play, she's 13-3 with a 1.04 ERA.
-Wozniak went 4-for-5 today with a double, two runs, and two RBI. She's now the team leader with 31 runs batted in this year.
-Rosado is batting .453 (29-for-64) in MAAC play with 16 RBI.
-Monmouth is 38-5 in MAAC games over the last two years including the postseason.
-With two more hits today, including the game-winner in game two, Tomasetti now has 99 for her career.
 
UP NEXT
Monmouth will secure a Regular Season Championship if Niagara sweeps Marist tomorrow afternoon. If the Red Foxes win at least one game, the Hawks will be the No. 2 seed at the MAAC Championships and will play on Thursday at 11:30 AM after a bye.