MONMOUTH SOFTBALL RALLIES TO BEAT SAINTS, 3-1

CLERMONT, Fla. – Monmouth College used a three-run seventh inning to come-from-behind and beat the Emmanuel College softball team, 3-1, Tuesday morning at Foundation Academy in Day 3 of the National Training Center games. The Fighting Scots improve to 2-2 on the year while the loss dips the Saints to 2-3 overall.

After a few scoreless innings, the Saints struck first in the bottom of the fourth by manufacturing a run without the benefit of a hit to take a 1-0 lead. Freshman designated player Ashley Skey (Brookline, N.H.) led off the inning with a walk and was replaced at first by pinch runner Cassey LePage (Somerset, Mass.). LePage moved to second and third on infield ground outs by the Saints and scampered across the plate for the game's first run following a passed ball.

The Fighting Scots threatened immediately as sophomore pitcher Kaylee Kurtz (Delaven, Ill.) tripled in the top of the fifth to put the tying run on third. EC junior pitcher Jill Kilcoyne (Worcester, Mass.) worked out of the jam and stranded the runner in scoring position to keep Emmanuel on top 1-0 with the help of some solid defense by junior third baseman Catherine Edmonds (Acton, Mass.).

Monmouth finally broke through with three runs in the seventh to take the lead for good powered by three hits. Junior Morgan Troop (Springfield, Ill.) pinch hit to open the frame, lacing a triple to deep right field. With one out, she tied the game at 1-1 with the help of an Emmanuel error that allowed junior Carolyn Scherpe (Galesburg, Ill.) to reach second representing the go-ahead run. Scherpe would give the Fighting Scots their first lead of the game scoring on an RBI double to right center by rookie pitcher Kaila Dunfee (Annawan, Ill.) to make it 2-1. Junior Kirstyn Ozga (Sparland, Ill.) kept the inning going with a two-out RBI double down the left field line to give Monmouth an insurance run, bumping the lead to 3-1.

Sophomore Liz Hippen (Loulon, Ill.) entered the game to pitch the final frame for the Fighting Scots but had to work to earn the save. EC senior left fielder Marianne Halas (Lynn, Mass.) broke up a no-hit bid for Monmouth with a two-out single to left off of Hippen. Senior Kerrianne Vulpis (East Rockaway, N.Y.) followed it up with a walk to put the tying run on base but Hippen was able to retire the side with a strikeout to preserve the 3-1 win for Monmouth.

Kurtz and Dunfee combined for six innings of no-hit ball for Monmouth with Dunfee earning the win with a perfect frame in the sixth to move to 1-0 on the year. Kurtz tossed the first five, allowing one run on no hits while striking out two

Kilcoyne (0-3) suffered her third loss in as many days for the Saints despite another strong outing, allowing just one earned run over seven innings while striking out eight.

The Saints return to action later today against Ursinus at 11:00 AM.