SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Monmouth softball team showed its resilience despite dropping a pair of games to Akron and Bowling Green in Friday's season-opening doubleheader at the Spartan Classic hosted by USC Upstate.

In the opener against Akron, the Hawks struck first, plating a run in the first inning on a Mackenzie Bloss RBI double. However, Akron responded with a five-run fifth inning to pull away for a 7-1 victory. Sophomore pitcher Izzy Bonacci battled through four innings in her season debut, while junior Jayla Cadena provided solid relief, allowing just one run over three frames.

Monmouth rebounded in the nightcap with an impressive offensive showing against Bowling Green, racking up 10 hits in a narrow 5-4 defeat. Kylee McLain ignited the Hawks' offense at the top of the order, going 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored, while Savannah Simons delivered a clutch two-run double in the first inning. The Hawks fought until the final out, plating two runs in the seventh but coming up just short of a comeback.

Doubleheader Notes
Morgan Royer made her Monmouth coaching debut for the Hawks. 
Mackenzie Bloss turned in a two-hit game and drove in Monmouth's lone run against Akron.
Savannah Simons registered four hits on the day, including a 3-for-4 effort in game two.
Kylee McLain made her collegiate debut and had two hits against Bowling Green and scored three runs on the day.
Both of Giana Scotti's hits were doubles against BGSU, and she also scored a run.
Olivia Lewis pitched a complete game against Bowling Green and surrendered three earned runs with five strikeouts.  

Up Next
The Hawks will play both Akron and Bowling Green again on Saturday, beginning with a 10 a.m. first pitch against the Zips.