WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ  - Monmouth softball split a pair of games against N.C. A&T on Friday afternoon at MU Softball Park, dropping the first game 5–1 but bouncing back in dramatic fashion, earning a 6–5 walk-off victory in the second game to secure the split. The win capped off a memorable Senior Day for Monmouth.

GAME ONE: N.C. A&T 5, Monmouth 1
N.C. A&T took a 1–0 lead in the top of the first inning and held onto the advantage throughout the remainder of the game.

The Aggies added two more runs in the top of the third inning on an RBI single and a groundout that brought another runner home, extending their lead to 3–0.

Dominique Lopez pulled the Hawks within two in the bottom of the third inning with a solo home run, but that would be the only run Monmouth scored in game one.

N.C. A&T added two insurance runs in the top of the fifth inning on a two-run home run to seal the 5–1 victory.

Game TWO: Monmouth 6, N.C. A&T 5
Prior to game two, the Hawks recognized their five seniors: Mackenzie Bloss, Jayla Cadena, Alissa Eimont, Bri Lawson and Kaitlynn Place

Sammy Miller played the hero in the bottom of the seventh inning with the Hawks trailing 5–4. Carah Sumpter drove in the game-tying run with an RBI single, and Miller followed with a walk-off RBI single to score Sumpter and seal the victory.

N.C. A&T opened the scoring in game two with an RBI double, but the Hawks answered quickly. Monmouth took its first lead in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI single from Mackenzie Bloss, followed by an error that allowed Bloss to come around and score.

The Aggies tied the game at 2–2 in the second inning on an RBI double. After scoreless third and fourth innings, N.C. A&T regained a 3–2 lead on an RBI single. Bloss evened the score at 3–3 in the bottom of the sixth inning with a solo home run.

The seniors continued to shine, as Jayla Cadena delivered the go-ahead run later, scoring pinch-runner Natalia Stewart in the sixth inning to give the Hawks a 4–3 lead. However, with two outs and two strikes in the top of the seventh, the Aggies responded with a two-run inside-the-park home run to take a 5–4 lead.

Monmouth answered in the bottom half, setting the stage for Miller's second walk-off hit of the season and a 6–5 Senior Day win.

NOTES AND NUMBERS 

• Sammy Miller hit her second walk-off of the season while this marked the third walk-off at home for Monmouth this season
• The Hawks tallied two solo home runs on Friday and now have 33 total home runs on the season
• Dominique Lopez went yard in the first game for her fifth home run
• Mackenzie Bloss hit a solo home run in the second game for her team-leading sixth home run on the season
• Seniors Bri Lawson and Mackenzie Bloss tallied a game-high of three hits to lead the Hawks offense in game two
• Monmouth held a 11-9 edge in hits game two
• Carah Sumpter picked up the win in game two for her fifth win on the season
• Olivia Lewis came on in relief in both games. In the first, she threw three scoreless innings, marking her second consecutive appearance without allowing an earned run.

UP NEXT 
Monmouth will close out the three-game series against N.C. A&T on Sunday at 12 p. m.