PHILADELPHIA - Monmouth softball defeated Drexel 9–1 in five innings at Drexel Softball Field, taking the opening game of a three-game series against the Dragons.

The Hawks wasted no time getting on the board in the first inning and never looked back. Ella Stevinson started the scoring with an RBI double, sparking early momentum for Monmouth. She later crossed the plate on a wild pitch to give the Hawks a 2–0 lead.

Drexel responded in the bottom of the second with a single through the right side to cut the deficit to 2–1, but it would be the only run Monmouth allowed all game.

Alissa Eimont delivered a dominant performance in the circle, holding Drexel to just one run over five innings.

Monmouth extended its lead in the third inning when Gianna Stern ripped a two-run double, bringing home Bri Lawson and Stevinson to make it 4–1.

The Hawks added to their advantage in the fourth. Liv Smith drove in Kaitlynn Place with an RBI double, and Lawson followed with an infield single to score Smith, pushing the lead to 6–1.

Monmouth's offense stayed hot in the fifth inning, plating three more runs. Mackenzie Bloss launched a solo home run to make it 7–1, and Jayla Cadena followed with a two-run shot to extend the lead to 9–1.

The Hawks' defense held firm to close out the run-rule victory in five innings.



NOTES AND NUMBERS 

• Monmouth surpassed last season's win total, recording the 12th win of the season on Friday
• Ella Stevinson recorded her eighth double of the season, bringing home Dominique Lopez with the first run of the day
• Alissa Eimont earned her 15th start of the season in the circle, throwing a game-high of four strikeouts
• Monmouth recorded a season-high of five doubles on Friday
• The Hawks held an 11-4 edge in hits 
• Mackenzie Bloss hit her fourth home run of the season and sixth long ball of her career
• Jayla Cadena hit her second home run of the season and second of her career
• Bri Lawson, Ella Stevinson, Mackenzie Bloss and Gianna Stern all finished with two hits apiece to combine for eight of Monmouth's 11 hits
• Stern hit a season-high two doubles on Friday and her sixth of the season

UP NEXT 
Monmouth will take on Drexel to close out the three-game series in a doubleheader, starting on Saturday at 12:00 p.m at the Drexel Softball Field.