FINAL (5 innings)
Western Michigan (3-2) – 6
Monmouth (1-4) - 8
 
EL PASO, TX – The Monmouth University Softball Team used 10 hits to record its first win of the 2024 season as the Hawks defeated Western Michigan, 8-6, to wrap up the Dr. Diana Natalicio Memorial Tournament hosted by UTEP on Sunday.

The Hawks used a four-run second inning to fly out to an early lead. Senior Devin Coia (2-for-2, RBI, BB) started the offensive party with an RBI single to drive in Bri Lawson for the game's first run, and Kaitlynn Place followed by driving in Coia with an RBI double off the center field fence. Dani Dabroski capped the big inning by driving in two on an error by the Bronco shortstop.
 
Place would bring another run home in the third on a misplay by the Western Michigan second baseman, as senior Abby Warner (1-for-2, RBI, R) scored from second despite the ball never making it to the outfield.
 
Trailing 5-0 the fourth, the Broncos' bats got hot and put together a six-run frame to take the lead.

Monmouth would immediately answer in the bottom half with three runs of its own. Shortstop Mackenzie Bloss hit her first double of the season into the left-center gap to score Savannah Simons and tie the game. After a wild pitch advanced Bloss to third, Warner gave the Hawks the lead right back on a sacrifice fly down the line in right.

Following Warner, Ana Rodriguez was called upon to pinch hit and crushed Monmouth's first home run of the season – a towering solo shot to right-center to extend MU's lead to two.
 
After a scoreless fifth, the game was officially called by the umpires due to time constraints.

Senior Kait Mulcahey was credited with the win after striking out two in 1.1 innings of relief duty for starter Billie Kerwood.

NOTES & NUMBERS
- Abby Warner led the Hawks with eight total bases at the tournament.
- Savannah Simons ranks first on the team with four RBI.
- Simons recorded her second straight multi-hit game.
- Mackenzie Bloss hit safely in all five games over the weekend.
- Dani Dabroski leads the Hawks with three stolen bases this season.
- Monmouth split the weekend with Western Michigan.
- Both teams finished with 10 hits.
- Monmouth left six runners on base, while WMU left nine.
 
QUOTE
"What a fantastic way to end opening weekend. The team was scrappy all three days. We had chances to win four of the five games and learned a lot about ourselves along the way.

Today we were able to put it all together, and I couldn't be prouder of the entire team. We are excited to get home and tweak a few things before we hit the field next weekend." – Head Coach Shannon Salsburg
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks pick up their season at the Winthrop Eagle Classic next weekend. Monmouth will open the tournament with a game versus Appalachian State and will also play USC Upstate, Binghamton, Le Moyne, and Mount St. Mary's over the span of three days.