Game 21 Final Score
Monmouth (6-15, 2-0 CAA) – 4
North Carolina A&T (5-15, 0-2 CAA) – 2
 
Game 22 Final Score
Monmouth (7-15, 3-0 CAA) – 11
North Carolina A&T (5-16, 0-3 CAA) – 10
 
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Monmouth University Softball Team secured a pair of hard-fought victories over North Carolina A&T, using strong hitting and key pitching performances to claim a 4-2 win on Saturday before outlasting the Aggies 11-10 in a Sunday slugfest at the Aggie Softball Complex. The two wins secure a three-game sweep as the Hawks begin the 2025 CAA season 3-0.
 
The Hawks (7-14) showcased their ability to win in different ways, using strong pitching to close out Saturday's game before rallying late in a high-scoring affair on Sunday.
 
In Saturday's contest, Monmouth struck first with a run in the first inning and later broke a scoreless stretch with a three-run fourth. Lexi Castaneda drove in two runs on an A&T error, while Olivia Smith added an RBI single to extend the lead to 4-0. Jayla Cadena (3-4) earned the win in the circle, tossing three shutout innings before turning it over to Olivia Lewis. The sophomore right-hander slammed the door with four scoreless frames, stranding multiple runners in the late innings to secure her first save of the season.
 
On Sunday, Monmouth's offense continued its recent hot stretch in a thrilling 11-10 victory. The Hawks exploded for five runs in the first inning, highlighted by an RBI single from Gabby Gesualdo and a run-scoring knock by Giana Scotti. The Aggies chipped away at the lead, eventually pulling ahead 7-5 in the fifth. However, Monmouth responded in a big way, plating six runs in the top half of the sixth to retake the lead. Scotti and Gesualdo each came through with RBI hits, while Cadena delivered a key run-scoring single to cap the rally.
 
The Aggies got one back in the seventh, but Castaneda threw out the potential tying run at the plate for the game's final out.

Notes & Numbers
- Monmouth begins its CAA season 3-0 for the first time ever.
- Giana Scotti led MU with six RBIs on the weekend and batted .500 (4-for-8).
- Gabby Gesualdo, Sammy Miller, Clare Picone, and Kylee McLain each scored five runs on the weekend.
- Monmouth scored 27 runs in the series – the most in a three-game series since joining the CAA.
- Head Coach Morgan Royer picked up her first career CAA series victory.
- The Hawks fielded at a 96.3% rate.
- Olivia Lewis struck out nine of the 11 total batters by Monmouth pitching.
 
Up Next
The Hawks have a midweek contest at Villanova on Wednesday, March 12. The game will be broadcast live on FloCollege at 4 p.m.