Game 47 Final Score
Delaware (32-14, 18-4 CAA) – 5
Monmouth (11-36, 7-15 CAA) – 1
 
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Monmouth University Softball battled with one of the CAA's top teams from start to finish but ultimately fell by a score of 5-1 to the Delaware Blue Hens at MU Softball Park on Friday afternoon.
 
The Hawks hung tough throughout the contest and threatened in multiple innings against Delaware ace and former Hawk Billie Kerwood, who entered with 19 wins on the season. Freshman outfielder Kylee McLain led the offensive charge, going 2-for-2 with a double, a hit-by-pitch, and a run scored, marking her second multi-hit performance of the week and team-leading ninth of 2025.
 
Izzy Bonacci pitched her third consecutive complete game, throwing 82 pitches across seven innings. She scattered nine hits and allowed five earned runs while walking just one and striking out one, keeping Monmouth within striking distance in a competitive CAA matchup.
 
The Hawks plated their lone run in the second inning. Jayla Cadena reached on a fielder's choice, and McLain was hit by a pitch before Lexi Castaneda worked a walk to load the bases. Gianna Stern followed with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Cadena and making it a 2-1 game.
 
Liv Smith reached base twice, adding a single and a walk, while Castaneda added her team-best 10^th stolen base as well. Defensively, Monmouth played clean, error-free softball and stranded just six runners, minimizing damage through the middle innings.
 
Bonacci's command helped hold Delaware scoreless in three of the final four innings, including a 1-2-3 sixth. Despite a pair of home runs from the Blue Hens, Monmouth held the potent offense to just five runs, below their season average.
 
Notes & Numbers
- McLain leads the Hawks with nine multi-hit games this season.
- Castaneda stole her team-leading 10^th bag.
- Smith leads qualified MU hitters with a .310 batting average.
- Delaware outhit Monmouth, 9-3.
- No errors were committed in the contest.
- Monmouth left six runners on base to Delaware's five.
- Delaware leads the all-time series, 14-6.
 
Up Next
The Hawks and Blue Hens meet for game two of the series on Saturday, April 26 at noon. The game will be broadcast live on FloCollege.