Game One
Fairleigh Dickinson Knights (5-11) – 3
Monmouth Hawks (3-14) – 2
 
Game Two
Fairleigh Dickinson Knights (6-11) – 7
Monmouth Hawks (3-15) – 2
 
WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – The Monmouth University softball team (3-15) played in front of its home fans for the first time this season on Tuesday afternoon, dropping a pair of games to Fairleigh Dickinson. The Hawks dropped game one by a score of 3-2 before falling in game two 7-2.
 
With Francesca Torraca on first after a bunt single, Abby Warner connected on her second home run of the season in game one to give the Hawks a 2-1 lead. In the top half of the seventh, Fairleigh Dickinson countered with a two-run home run of its own, retaking the lead and eventually coming away with the victory. Billie Kerwood put together a solid performance in the circle, going all seven frames and striking out six while walking just one.
 
By the end of the second inning in game two, MU held a 2-0 lead. Lindsey Baron stole third and came around to score following a throwing error by the catcher in the first inning, and the senior shortstop sent an RBI single to center field to plate Torraca in the second. All the damage from FDU came in the fifth frame as the Knights went on to win their second game of the afternoon.
 
NOTES
-Baron extended her hitting streak to five games
-Kerwood notched her third complete game of the season in game one
-Her six strikeouts in the first game tied a season high
-Emily Spencer pitched for the first time since March 4, which was also against FDU
-Torraca scored two runs on the day and now leads the team with nine overall
-Warner is now tied for the team lead in home runs with two
-Nicole Mucha took her fourth at-bat of the season in game two, grounding out to short
-In her second at-bat of the season, Lexi Castaneda grounded out to second
 
NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Baron is now slashing .389/.468/.574 this season after her 3-6 performance in today's games
-Monmouth committed zero errors in both contests
-Hawks pitchers combined for 11 strikeouts over games one and two
-The Hawks and Knights each had five hits in game one
-FDU outhit Monmouth 7-5 in game two
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks have a quick turnaround as they'll head to the University of Maryland to compete in the Capital City Classic. Monmouth's first game of the tournament is against the host Terrapins at 6:00 PM on Thursday, March 17. The event runs through Sunday, March 20.