WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ. - Monmouth softball picked up a pair of wins against Maine in the home opener Wednesday afternoon at the MU Softball Park in a doubleheader, downing UMaine 3-2 in the first game while securing a sweep with a 11-7 win in game two. 


GAME 1: MONMOUTH 3, UMAINE 2
Tessa Thompson was the hero in Game 1. With the score tied at two in the bottom of the seventh inning and two outs, Thompson hit a single up the left side of the field, sending Ella Stevinson home with the game-winning run.

The Black Bears scored the game's first two runs, plating one in the first inning and another in the third. The Hawks battled back, and Mackenzie Bloss delivered the equalizer with a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Isabella Bonacci was a huge reason the Hawks came out on top. She turned in an outstanding performance, allowing just one earned run over seven innings. Bonacci threw 81 pitches and struck out 10 batters in a complete-game effort.


GAME 2: MONMOUTH 11, UMaine 7
The Hawks came out strong in game two, jumping to an early lead. Monmouth's first run of the day came via a walk, setting the tone for the offense. Shortly after, Carah Sumpter delivered a big moment, blasting a three-run home run to give the Hawks a 4–0 advantage. It marked Sumpter's first collegiate home run—and it came on her very first career hit.

Monmouth added another run in the bottom of the fourth inning when Olivia Smith stole home, extending the lead to 5–0. However, Maine responded in a big way, scoring six runs in the top of the fifth inning to take a 6–5 lead.

The Hawks answered right back in the bottom half of the inning. Olivia Smith came through again, singling to bring Clare Picone home and tie the game at six.

Maine briefly regained the lead in the top of the sixth inning, capitalizing on a Monmouth error. But the Hawks had the final say, erupting for four runs to put the game away.

Bri Lawson sparked the rally with a single up the left side, driving in two runs. Gianna Stern then added the exclamation point with a three-run home run, pushing Monmouth ahead 11–7.

Maine managed just one hit in the seventh inning, but Olivia Lewis—who entered in relief of Sumpter—shut the door to secure the victory for the Hawks.





NOTES AND NUMBERS

• Monmouth rolled to its third straight win
• Tessa Thomspon picked up her first walk off of the season. It marked the second walk of the season for the Hawks
• Mackenzie Bloss hit her second home run in as many games and third home run of the season, a season-high for the senior
• Izzy Bonacci tallied a season-high 10 strikeouts, having her best performance of the season
• Monmouth outhit Maine 7-5 in game one
• Ella Stevinson and Mackenzie Bloss both tallied a team-high two hits. They combined for four of Monmouth's seven hits in the first gaME
• Carah Sumpter's home run in game two marked Monmouth's third straight game with a home run
• Gianna Stern joined Sumpter in game two, hitting a three-run home run of her own
• Sumpter and Stern finished game two with a team-high three RBIs
• Sammy Miller, Clare Picone,Bri Lawson and  Olivia Smith all tallied two hits in game two

UP NEXT 
Monmouth will take on Towson in a three-game series starting this Friday with  opening pitch slated for 2 p.m. at the MU Softball Park on Friday.