Game One
Elon (10-15, 4-0 CAA) – 6
Monmouth (2-14, 2-2 CAA) – 2
Game Two
Elon (10-16, 4-1 CAA) – 4
Monmouth (3-14, 3-2 CAA) – 6
WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – In the sixth inning,
Mackenzie Bloss gave the Monmouth University softball team the lead on a sacrifice fly, and then
Bri Lawson added insurance with a two-out RBI single to right field to help the Hawks defeat Elon in game two of a Saturday doubleheader at MU Softball Park.
Monmouth quickly jumped out to a lead thanks to a four-run bottom of the second. With the bases loaded,
Emily Churchill was called upon to pinch hit and worked a four-pitch walk, bringing home
Julia Thuer. Next,
Francesca Torraca drove another run in on a fielder's choice to make it 2-0. Junior catcher
Abby Warner followed with a line drive single off the pitcher, where an aggressive
Briana Hoskins scored from second base, despite the ball never leaving the infield. The Hawks then executed a perfect double steal, with Warner taking second and Torraca swiping home to extend the lead to four.
Elon would chip away and tie the game in the top of the fifth. Torraca showcased her speed to help spark the sixth-inning rally for MU. She led off the frame with an infield single, beat out a throw to second on a fielder's choice, made it to third on a sacrifice bunt by
Eve Serrato, and later scored on Bloss's sac fly. Lawson then singled home
Abby Warner on a line drive off the very top of the leaping Phoenix first baseman, giving the Hawks a 6-4 lead.
Kait Mulcahey relieved
Billie Kerwood in the circle, earning her first win of the season with a stat line of 2.0 IP, allowing one hit, and adding a strikeout. Kerwood threw five innings of six-hit ball, allowing four runs (two unearned), and striking out five.
Elon defeated the Hawks in game one by a score of 6-2 behind a five-run top of the seventh.
Kylie Gletow went 6.2 innings and allowed five runs before turning it over to Mulcahey to record the final out. Lawson had the lone RBI for MU, with the other run coming via a double steal by Bloss and Serrato.
NOTES & QUOTES
"Today was a huge split. Elon is one of the top teams in our conference.
What we've learned today is that we are more than capable of competing in this new league. We do have to be consistent and continue to do the little things. When we do that, we're going to have success, and today showed just that.
Even in game one, though disappointed with the loss, I was really proud of the fight and how we came out. We look forward to getting back out here tomorrow and to go for the series win." – Head Coach
Shannon Salsburg
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Francesca Torraca is a perfect 3-for-3 on stolen base attempts this season.
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Bri Lawson has five hits in her last 13 ABs and leads the team with a .302 batting average.
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Abby Warner has reached base safely in 11 games this season.
- It was the first-ever time the Hawks and Phoenix went head-to-head.
NUMBERS CRUNCH
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Abby Warner leads the team with 14 hits in 2023.
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Mackenzie Bloss extended her hit streak to six games and notched her first career RBI.
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Kylie Gletow is fifth in the country in BB/7 (0.38).
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Billie Kerwood leads the CAA in K/7 ratio (8.6).
UP NEXT
The Hawks wrap up the three-game series versus the Phoenix on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at MU Softball Park.
