(9 innings)
Mercer Bears (2-5) - 4
Monmouth Hawks (0-1) - 1
 
Monmouth Hawks (1-1) - 7
Presbyterian Blue Hose (4-2) - 3
 
MADEIRA BEACH, FL – After falling to Mercer in game one, the Monmouth University softball team earned a 7-3 win over Presbyterian behind two home runs and four total RBI from junior Erika Coreth (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township).  
 
Neither team scored until the eighth inning in the opener, when the Bears took a 1-0 lead. Senior pitcher Alyssa Irons (Rock Creek, OH/Jefferson Area) pitched seven scoreless innings in before Mercer scored on a fielder's choice. Senior Sam Tomasetti (Garnet Valley, PA/Garnet Valley) answered in the bottom half with an RBI double, but Mercer scored three runs in the top of the ninth to seal the win.
 
Coreth led the charge in game two, going 3-for-4 in the win with two home runs, four RBI, and two runs.
 
Freshman pitcher Kylie Gletow (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central Regional) earned her first career win, pitching six full innings while giving up just two earned runs.
 
Monmouth's record stands at 1-1, and the team will face Purdue and Southern Illinois tomorrow.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
 
"Overall, it was a solid first day on the field. In game one, Alyssa threw very well, getting us into extra innings. To their credit, Mercer found a way to drop balls into slight openings in our defense, and that proved to be the difference. In game two, I thought Kylie pitched well and had a nice outing. Our defense was solid behind her, and the offense picked up from where we left off against Mercer. Erika had a huge day for us. We're excited to get right back to it tomorrow and continue to grow." – Monmouth head coach Shannon Salsburg
 
-Irons pitched all nine innings in game one, not giving up a run until the eighth inning and striking out four batters.
-After junior Katie Harrington bumped junior Morgan Maziarz over to third with a sacrifice bunt, Tomasetti tied it up with a double down the left field line.
-Mercer took control in the top of the ninth with a pair of RBI singles.
 
-In game two, Monmouth took an early lead in the top of the first after an error. Presbyterian answered in the bottom half with an RBI single to tie it.
-In the top of the second, Maziarz led off with a single and ended up at third with a passed ball and stolen base. Harrington walked and later stole second.
-Senior Kayla Rosado made it 3-1 with a two-RBI double to right center.
-The Blue Hose cut the deficit to 3-2 in the bottom of the second with an RBI single.
-Coreth broke the game open in the top of the fifth, launching a three-run homer to center field. Rosado and sophomore Lindsey Baron scored on the play after back-to-back singles to open the inning.
-Coreth extended the lead to 7-2 in the top of the seventh with another home run, this time a solo shot over the left field wall.
-Presbyterian registered a run in the bottom of the seventh, but junior Christine Frazee later forced a groundout to seal the win.
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks will face Purdue (11:00 AM) and Southern Illinois (1:30 PM) tomorrow.