FINAL SCORE
Monmouth (6-15, 1-0 CAA) – 2
Drexel (3-11, 0-1 CAA) – 0
 
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Junior pitcher Billie Kerwood struck out seven and recorded her second shutout of the season as the Monmouth University Softball Team defeated Drexel on Friday afternoon, 2-0.

The Hawks start 1-0 in conference play for the second consecutive season as members of the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA).

Kerwood fanned two Dragons in both the second and third innings and then got a punchout in each of the game's final three innings. Four of the Pennsylvania native's punchouts came without a swing, bringing her CAA-leading total to 18 in strikeouts looking.
 
The game was scoreless through the first five innings, but the Hawks struck for both of their runs in the top of the sixth. After Lexi Castaneda was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, Dani Dabroski (1-for-1, 2 BB, R) walked with one out. Mackenzie Bloss (1-for-3) singled to left to score Castaneda on a close play at the plate. Dabroski then narrowly beat a tag at home on a Bri Lawson squeeze bunt to make the game 2-0.

NOTES & NUMBERS
- Kerwood struck out 7+ batters for the third time this season.
- Bloss leads the Hawks with 12 RBI in 2024.
- Lawson recorded her 16^th career RBI.
- Dabroski drew two walks in a game for the second time this season.
- The all-time series is now tied at seven apiece.
- Monmouth left five runners on base on the day, while Drexel left four.
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks and Dragons meet for game two of the three-game series on Saturday at 11:00 a.m.