FINAL SCORE
Towson (19-27, 8-13 CAA) – 6
Monmouth (15-30, 7-13 CAA) – 5
 
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Sophomore outfielder Tessa Thompson hit her first home run in a Hawks uniform, but the Towson Tigers came back late to defeat the Monmouth University Softball Team, 6-5, at MU Softball Park.
 
After no-hitting the Tigers for 9.1 straight innings, senior pitcher Ana Rodriguez allowed a one-out double in the third inning to Naila Neely who later came around to score the game's first run on a wild pitch.

The Hawks struck for two runs in the fourth to take the lead, however, as catcher Kaitlynn Place tripled home Bri Lawson and Devin Coia with two outs. The sophomore worked a seven-pitch at-bat and sent a hard line drive that evaded the leaping Towson centerfielder.
 
Towson got a run back in the sixth but Billie Kerwood was able to escape a bases loaded jam.

Monmouth scored three in the bottom half when Thompson led off the inning with a solo homer to center. Savannah Simons later doubled in two with two outs and the bases loaded to push the MU lead up to 5-2.

Towson was able to score four runs in the top of the seventh to take the lead back. The Tigers sent nine batters to the plate in the inning. The Hawks were able to put the tying run on base in the bottom half, but could not push it across as they lost the series, 2-1.
 
QUOTE
"Tough end to the weekend. I thought Ana gave us another excellent start. Our hitters did a good job of continuing to fight each and every at-bat. I am stoked for Tessa for hitting that big home run for us. There really was a lot of good.
 
At the end of the day, those are the kind of games we need to finish as we continue to strive to be better in this conference. We are going to regroup and prepare ourselves for next weekend with Charleston. I am looking forward to sending our seniors out the right way as we enter the final stretch." – Head Coach Shannon Salsburg

NOTES & NUMBERS
- Thompson hit her fourth career home run and first for MU.
- Simons collected two hits and now leads the Hawks with a .307 batting average.
- Bri Lawson had a multi-hit game and has scored a run in two straight.
- Place hit her first career triple.
- Kerwood is now 9-17 in the circle this season.
- MU falls to 8-7 at home.
- Towson leads the all-time series, 3-1.
- The Tigers had more hits, 11-8.
- Monmouth left eight runners on base, while Towson left nine.
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks return to action at home versus the College of Charleston April 26-28.