(5 inn.)
Rider Broncs (0-10) - 0
Monmouth Hawks (10-6) – 8
 
(9 inn.)
Winthrop Eagles (10-8) – 8
Monmouth Hawks (10-7) – 7
 
WASHINGTON, DC – After defeating Rider in five innings, 8-0, the Monmouth University softball team was edged by Winthrop in nine innings, 8-7.
 
The Hawks won their fourth straight in game one, led by a three-run home run from junior Erika Coreth (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township). Coreth continued her strong performance in game two, going 3-for-5 with two runs.
 
The Blue and White jumped out to a 5-0 lead in game two with runs batted in from four different players. Monmouth later trailed by two runs in the bottom of the seventh, when senior Tommi Stowers (Columbus, IN/Columbus North/Western Kentucky) roped a two-RBI double to tie the game. The Eagles notched a run in the top of the ninth for the win.
 
Senior Alyssa Irons pitched eight total innings on the day, going 1-1 and striking out five batters.
 
Freshman pitcher Kylie Gletow (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central Regional) tossed six innings in game two, giving up no earned runs and four hits.  
 
Monmouth's record stands at 10-7 on the season, and the team will continue play in Washington, DC tomorrow against Winthrop and George Washington.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
 
"I liked how we came out in game one. Alyssa threw well, our defense was sharp, and our hitters did a great job of attacking strikes. In game two, we did a good job of building a lead. Credit to Winthrop for never quitting and taking advantage of a call that went against us. We fought hard to take back momentum, but simply need to do a better job of closing the door. I'm confident it will happen moving forward." – Monmouth head coach Shannon Salsburg
 
-Monmouth got off to a big start in game one, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first. Senior Sam Tomasetti led off with a single, and senior Kayla Rosado singled to left field two batters later.
-Senior Amanda Hopeck made it 1-0 with an RBI single to left field to score Tomasetti. Coreth then launched a three-run home run to left field, giving Monmouth a 4-0 lead.
-The Hawks tacked on three runs in the bottom of the third. Sophomore Lindsey Baron and Rosado both walked. On a double steal, Baron eventually scored on a throwing error by the catcher.
-Senior Amber Wozniak later hit a sacrifice fly to score junior Christine Frazee, who came in to pinch run.
-Junior Katie Harrington drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs to make it 7-0.  
-Baron led off the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run, extending Monmouth's lead to 8-0.
-Irons shut down Rider in the top of the fifth for the run-rule win.
 
-In game two, Tomasetti gave Monmouth a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third with an RBI double down the left field line. Harrington scored on the play after hitting a single.
-Baron brought home Tomasetti with a single to right center to make it 2-0.
-The Hawks scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth to go ahead 5-0. Coreth led off with a double, and crossed the plate after a Wozniak RBI single. With two outs, Harrington belted an RBI double to left field, and later scored on a double steal.
-Winthrop cut the deficit with two runs in the top of the sixth, including an RBI single.
-The Eagles took a 7-5 lead in the top of the seventh with five runs.
-In the bottom of the seventh, Coreth doubled with one out and junior Morgan Maziarz walked. Stowers came in to pinch hit with two outs, and tied the game with a two-RBI double to left center.
-Winthrop scored the game-winning run in the top of the ninth with an RBI double. The Hawks were retired in order in the bottom half.
 
NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Coreth went 4-for-7 on the day with a home run, three RBI, two doubles, and four runs. She ranks second on the team with a .375 average.
-Harrington went 2-for-5 on the day with a double, two RBI, and two runs.
-Baron launched her first home run of the season, and 13^th of her career.
-Gletow lowered her ERA on the season to 2.42.
-Stowers has five RBI in 10 at bats.
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks will continue play at George Washington's Buff & Blue Challenge tomorrow, facing Winthrop and George Washington.