Game One (8 Innings)
Siena (1-0) – 3
Monmouth (0-1) – 1
 
Game Two
Monmouth (0-2) – 1
Siena (2-0) – 4
 
JACKSON, NJ – The Monmouth University softball team fell to Siena twice in an Opening Day doubleheader on Friday afternoon at the Adventure Sports and Entertainment Complex in Jackson, NJ.

The Hawks got a career-high 11 strikeouts from sophomore pitcher Billie Kerwood in game one but fell to the Saints, 3-1. Kerwood gave her squad 7.2 innings of four-hit ball, walking five, and allowing two earned runs on 138 pitches.
 
Third baseman Riley Riendeau doubled to left with two outs in the bottom of the second inning, and then scored when Eve Serrato drove a ball that was dropped by the right fielder. Riendeau went 2-for-3 in the game – the only Hawk with a multi-hit game on the day.

Monmouth hit the ball much harder in game two, but the Saints countered with fantastic defense, making several diving plays and snagging a few hard line drives. Senior Kylie Gletow threw a six-inning complete game, allowing 10 hits, four earned runs, and striking out three on 80 pitches in the 4-1 loss.
 
Catcher Devin Coia drove in the lone run for the Hawks on an RBI single that scored Julia Thuer from second base in the top of the sixth. Thuer reached on a walk earlier in the inning. Briana Hoskins added a double, one of the four Monmouth hits in the contest.

NOTES & QUOTES
"It was great to be back on the field and see our team play together again.

In game one, I thought Billie threw a great game. She didn't always have her stuff but fought through some innings with solid defense behind her. Offensively, we did a really good job of putting the ball in play – just needed that one big hit.

In game two, there was more solid defense and Kylie battled and threw well. Offensively, we needed to make a quicker adjustment, but I liked our processes in the box all day long.

Overall, a lot of bright spots, a lot of things I liked, and some things to tweak. I am excited to get back to work and see how we do next weekend down at Stetson." – Head Coach Shannon Salsburg

- Kerwood set a new career high with 11 strikeouts in game one
- Riendeau has seven career doubles, while Hoskins has three
- The Hawks drew five walks on the day
- Siena left more runners on base, 13-8
- Both teams had four hits in game one
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks will be down in DeLand, FL next weekend for the Stetson Hatter Classic. Play kicks off on Friday, February 17, as they take on Fairfield at 9:30 a.m. and then Mercer at noon.