Monmouth Advances to Softball Championship Final with 12-8 Win over Fairfield
MAAC Sports
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Fifth- seed Monmouth University used a two inning, 10 run rally to defeat second-seed Fairfield University, 12-8, and advance to the title game of the 2015 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Softball Championship at Demske Sports Complex in Buffalo, New York on the campus of Canisius College.
Monmouth came out swinging early, picking up two hits from their second and third batters in the lineup. Rachel Shotzbarger would then drive in the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Chloe Howerth and giving Monmouth a 1-0 edge with runners on first and second. Kayleena Flores followed up with an RBI single to extend an early lead to 2-0 over Fairfield.
In the bottom of the first, Fairfield managed to load the bases with two outs, but Monmouth was able to get out the jam when Vanessa Cardoza grabbed a liner on a short hop to third base and tagged the base for the third out.
Fairfield scored the equalizer, in the bottom of the fourth with two outs, when Nicole Capra hit a two-run home run over the center field fence making it 2-2.
Monmouth responded quickly in the top of the fifth, when Shotzbarger sent the first pitch thrown to her over the center field wall for a three-run homer, helping Monmouth retake the lead at 5-2. In the bottom half of the fifth, Fairfield would begin its rally with back-to-back RBI singles from Tori Reed and Sam Frungillo making the game 5-4. Fairfield would then get a three-run bomb from Molly Roche, giving Fairfield its first lead of the day, at 7-5.
In the top of the sixth, Monmouth would continue its rally from the fifth beginning with an RBI on an error by the Fairfield first basemen with bases loaded making the score 7-6. Ashalynn Umiamaka would start a Monmouth streak of RBIs with a two RBI double and another run scored on an error giving the Hawks a 9-7 edge. The rally continued with an RBI double by Rachel Shotzbarger, extending the lead to 10-7. Flores added to the rally with an RBI double of her own, making the lead 11-7. Monmouth would add another run on an RBI single by Nikki Sandelie, upping the advantage to 12-7.
In the bottom of the sixth, Fairfield’s Kristen Ball would cut into the lead of Monmouth by driving in a run on a triple to bring the score to 12-8, but the Stags would fail to drive in anymore runs in the inning or the game.
Monmouth’s Amanda Riley (6-7) was the winning pitcher in the game, while Lauren Falkanger (10-11) from Fairfield was the losing pitcher.
Monmouth advances to the championship final on Saturday at 12:00 p.m., with an opponent still to be determined. Fairfield will play later today at 4:00 p.m. in an elimination game against the winner of third-seed Manhattan College and fourth-seed Siena College.