Monmouth Hawks (11-9) – 6
George Washington Colonials (8-13) – 1
 
WASHINGTON, DC – On the last day of the Buff & Blue Challenge, the Monmouth University softball team defeated host George Washington, 6-1.
 
Senior Amanda Hopeck (Green Brook, NJ/Watchung Hills) went 3-for-4 in the win with a home run, a double, and three total RBI.
 
Senior Kayla Rosado (Oradell, NJ/River Dell) delivered a three-run home run to extend Monmouth's lead in the top of the seventh inning.
 
Junior Alyssa Irons (Rock Creek, OH/Jefferson Area/Hofstra) earned a complete game win, giving up no earned runs and two hits.
 
Sophomore Lindsey Baron (Matawan, NJ/St. John Vianney) went 3-for-4 with two doubles and three runs on the day.  
 
Monmouth improves to 11-9 on the season. The team will compete at George Mason's Cherry Blossom Classic next weekend.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
 
"I am proud of the way the team rebounded today. Last night, they recommitted themselves to who we are as a program and each other. You could see that commitment in how they approached every piece of the game today. It was a great way to end our weekend, and we look forward to getting ready for next weekend." – Monmouth head coach Shannon Salsburg
 
-Monmouth got things going in the top of the first, beginning with a Baron double with one out.
-With two outs, Hopeck launched a two-run home run to left center to give the Hawks an early lead.
-Baron led off the top of the third with another double. Rosado bumped her over to third with a groundout, and Hopeck picked up another RBI with a groundout to make it 3-0.
-Irons did not allow a hit in the second, third, fourth, and fifth innings.
-The Colonials put runners on second and third in the bottom of the sixth with a walk and double. Irons got out of the inning unscathed with two popups.
-With two outs in the top of the seventh, senior Sam Tomasetti hit an infield single. After Baron followed with a single, Rosado crushed a three-run home run to make it 6-0.
-George Washington got on the board in the bottom of the seventh, but Irons forced a fly out to end the game.
 
NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Irons has tossed 45 complete games in 48 career starts with Monmouth. She improves to 7-5 on the season and lowered her ERA to 2.53.
-Hopeck hit her third home run of the season, and fifth of her career. She ranks second on the team with a .369 batting average.  
-In 20 games this season, Rosado is batting .438 with four home runs and 23 RBI.
-Baron has hit 27 doubles in 74 career games.
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks will continue non-conference play at George Mason's Cherry Blossom Classic next weekend in Fairfax, VA. Opponents include Georgetown, George Mason, and Maryland.