Game One
Monmouth (0-3) – 4
UTEP (3-1) – 7

Game Two
Monmouth (0-4) – 4
Western Michigan (3-1) – 6
 
EL PASO, TX – Sophomore third baseman Savannah Simons knocked in four total runs on Saturday at the Dr. Diana Natalicio Memorial Tournament, but the Monmouth University Softball Team recorded losses to UTEP and Western Michigan.
 
Monmouth held early leads in both games and outhit their opponent in each game despite still being in search of their first victory of 2024.
 
Lexi Castaneda (2-for-4, RBI, R) sparked a second-inning rally in game one by driving in Devin Coia on an infield single followed by Kaitlynn Place (1-for-4, R) scoring shortly after on an error to give the Hawks a 2-1 lead over host UTEP.

The Miners responded all game long, however, and scored in each of the first four innings, including a four-run fourth. In the sixth, Simons (1-for-2, RBI, BB) drove in the Hawks' fourth and final run of the game after Mackenzie Bloss (1-for-2, RBI, R, 2 BB) plated Castaneda on a single to left. UTEP would escape with the 7-4 win despite being outhit, 7-5.

Simons (2-for-4, 3 RBI, BB) was one of three Monmouth players that recorded a multi-hit game in the second contest of the day versus Western Michigan. The Georgian Court transfer drove in Villanova transfer Dani Dabroski (2-for-4, 2 R) on an infield single in the top of the first, and then Bri Lawson (1-for-4, RBI) extended the lead to two on an RBI infield single of her own in the third.

The Broncos tied the game shortly after on a two-run home run, but the Hawks immediately responded as Simons drove in two on a two-out single to right field, putting the Blue & White back ahead, 4-2.

Western Michigan would chip away and eventually take the lead on a two-run double in the fifth and hold on for the 6-4 win.

Overall, Monmouth pitchers struck out nine batters on the day with freshman Olivia Lewis leading the way with 6.1 innings pitched.

NOTES & NUMBERS
- Abby Warner is batting .500 with two doubles through four games.
- Warner and Simons lead the Hawks with three walks each.
- Castaneda collected her first career multi-hit game versus UTEP.
- This was the first time the Hawks played both UTEP and Western Michigan.
- Monmouth left 23 runners on base on the day, while their opponents left 14 combined.
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks finish off the Dr. Natalicio Memorial with a rematch versus Western Michigan at 11:00 a.m. EST.