Monmouth Softball Upends Siena, 2-1
MAAC Sports
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Freshman Sydney Underhill scattered three hits and struck out four to lead fifth-seeded Monmouth to a 2-1 victory over fourth-seeded Siena in the opening round of the 2014 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Softball Championship, at Fairfield University’s Alumni Stadium.
Underhill faced 26 batters, and in addition to allowing just three hits, yielded just one walk. She threw an efficient 87 pitches, including 55 strikes, and put the Saints down in order in the second, fourth and seventh innings.
The only run Underhill allowed came in the bottom of the sixth, when Melanie Kalesse reached on an error and stole second. With two outs and on a 3-2 pitch, opposing hurler Jessika-Jo Sandrini ripped a RBI single up the middle to score Kalesse. The rally stalled on a ground out to third with the next hitter.
Underhill threw seven pitches in the bottom of the seventh, inducing two groundouts and a strikeout to seal the victory. The victory raised her record to 18-13.
It was Monmouth’s first-ever appearance, and win, in the MAAC Softball Championship. The Hawks are first-year members of the MAAC.
Sandrini scattered five hits in the losing effort. She struck out four, but allowed six walks.
In the bottom of the third, Sandrini walked three batters, and a Kayleena Flores single drove in the only two runs Monmouth (22-19) would need. Monmouth was able to load the bases again in the sixth inning on two singles and a walk, but Sandrini induced a fielder’s choice ground out and then a strikeout to get out of the jam. The loss dropped Sandrini to 19-11.
Siena, which set a program record for victories in a season this year, dropped to 28-25. The Saints will face the loser of Thursday morning’s first game, Fairfield vs. Iona, at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday.
Monmouth will face top seed Marist in Thursday morning’s second game, at 11:30 a.m.