WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The Niagara Purple Eagles were swept in their season finale doubleheader by the Monmouth Hawks, 8-0 and 9-8, on Sunday.
Niagara 0, Monmouth 8 (5 innings)Monmouth took game one of the double header in five innings.
The Hawks scored the first run of the game on wild pitch in the second inning, before adding two runs in the third. Monmouth's Kayleena Flores led off the fourth inning with a triple and later scored; Monmouth made it 5-0 after a RBI ground out by Emma Hill. Monmouth used a three-run fifth inning to wrap up the contest.
Amanda Werth had Niagara lone hit in the game, coming in the first inning.
Niagara 8, Monmouth 9The Purple Eagles (4-40, 4-16 MAAC) had season-highs with eight runs and 14 hits, but the Hawks scored six unanswered runs in the final two innings to rally for the win.
Monmouth (16-23, 12-8 MAA) led 2-0 after two innings before NU got on the scoreboard. A
Chanelle Ward single drove home
Sarah Trifoso in the third inning. NU tied the game in the fourth inning when
Taylor Moody scored on a throwing error by the shortstop. The Hawks regained the lead in their half of the fourth inning with a Vanessa Cardoza RBI double.
Niagara responded with a six-run fifth inning. Werth and Ward led off the inning with consecutive singles.
Brianna Clark, then, reached on a fielder's choice. Two batters later, Werth scored on a passed ball to tie the game at 3-3. Moody followed with a RBI single to put NU back in front. Two batters later,
Ally Gay singled to left field to load the bases.
Desarae Maldonado cleared the bases with her first career grand slam and team-leading third home run of the season as Niagara led 8-3.
The Hawks scored two runs in their half of the inning on a Ashalynn Umiamaka double to right field. In the sixth inning, Monmouth surged back in front thanks to a four-run inning on two hits and one Niagara error.
Trailing 9-8 in the seventh, Moody led off the inning for NU with a single to centerfield.
Ambur Farmer followed with a double to left centerfield to advance Moody to third. Though, Gay popped into a double play with Moody out on the play. Maldonado deep fly ball was caught at the wall by the centerfielder to end the game.
