Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 PHILADELPHIA - Alicia Aughton pitched two complete games and added a home run to lead the La Salle softball team to a sweep over Monmouth on Tuesday afternoon at West Campus Field. The Explorers pounded the Hawks 7-1 in the first game before taking the nightcap 4-1.

Aughton gave up just one earned run over the two games and struck out seven on the day. She also got two hits, one being a two-run homer in the first game.

Kristin Travers added the Explorers' second home run, a three-run blast in the nightcap that proved to be the winning scores. Emily Moran also went 2-for-2 with two doubles, a RBI and a run scored in the nightcap.

"I'm proud of the way we played as a team today on both sides of the ball," Head Coach Brianne Brown said. "Alicia had a fantastic performance in the circle both games and the team was behind her every step of the way offensively and defensively. It was a wonderful day all around for La Salle softball."

Monmouth (11-13) got on the board in the top of the first inning of the first game. Christine Scherr knocked a leadoff double and two outs later, scored when Vanessa Cardoza reached base on a throwing error.

The Explorers (5-23) went ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth on Aughton's two-run blast that also scored Megan Hodgson, who belted a double down the left field line.

The Hawks threatened in the fifth with Chelsea Paprocki advancing to third on a Tish Derer sacrifice bunt with one out, but the Explorers forced Kayla Weiser into a groundout to second base to end the inning.

The Blue & Gold then exploded for five runs in the bottom of the frame. Liz Reed and Tristan Musho drew walks to open the inning and Travers then reached base on a fielding error by Hawk second baseman Scherr. On Linnette Siedler's at-bat, Reed scored on a throwing error by Hawk catcher Weiser for the first run. Siedler then took a tough hit to the arm to get to first on a hit-by-pitch to re-load the bases.

One out later, Hodgson was safe on a fielder's choice when the Hawks tried throwing out Musho at home but Musho got in under the tag for the second run of the inning. Aughton then followed up with a RBI single to center to score Travers. Shannon Skomorucha kept it going by launching a sacrifice fly to left field, plating Siedler for run number four. Kati Cooper then drew a walk to load the bases and Reed then drew her second walk of the inning, which scored Hodgson to put the score at 7-1, which held for the final.

Aughton went all seven in the circle, giving up just one unearned run, scattering five hits and striking out six. Alissa Schoelkopf took the loss for the Hawks, pitching four innings and giving up four runs on two hits while striking out four and walking three. Lauren Sulick came on in relief, giving up three unearned runs on three hits, striking out two and walking two.

The Hawks once again drew first blood in the nightcap on Shannon Fitzgerald's solo home run in the second.

The Explorers responded right away, getting the run back in the bottom of the frame. Reed singled down the right field line and moved to second on an Alyssa Bitsimis sac bunt. Moran followed up with the first of her two doubles to score Reed.

Scherr responded for the Hawks with a leadoff double in the third, but the Explorers got two quick outs. A walk was surrendered to Paprocki to put runners at first and second with two outs, but an Alicia DeSanto groundout ended the inning. The Hawks also had two two-out singles in the fourth but Explorer centerfielder Breanna DiTommaso snagged a fly ball for the third out.

The Explorers then put up a three-run fourth on Travers' three-run blast to left center. Cooper knocked a leadoff single through the left side but was out at second on Reed's attempted sac bunt. Reed, however, reached base. One out later, Moran drew a walk and Travers followed up with the winning home run.

Two Explorer miscues in the sixth allowed the Hawks to take second and third with nobody out, but the Explorer defense clamped down and recorded three straight outs to end the threat. The Hawks also got two baserunners in the seventh on a walk and a single with two outs, but Siedler caught a fly ball in left field to end the game.

Aughton again went the distance, giving up just one run on seven hits. Jordan Barnett suffered the loss for the Hawks, giving up four runs on six hits in five innings pitched. Sulick once again came on in relief, allowing just one hit.

The Explorers look to continue their momentum when they travel to Bucknell tomorrow for a doubleheader beginning at 3:30 p.m.