LORETTO, Pa. (Mar. 27, 2010) – The Saint Francis softball team struggled on offense and were hurt by the big inning in disappointing doubleheader losses against Monmouth in both teams' Northeast Conference openers on Saturday at the Red Flash Softball Field.

The Hawks broke open a 1-0 game with five runs fifth inning of a 9-1 win in Game 1 over SFU. Monmouth then scored five runs with two outs in the third inning of Game 2, and took the contest 11-1 in five innings.

The Red Flash will be back in action at 10 a.m. on Sunday against Fairleigh Dickinson. The game time has been changed from Noon to 10 a.m. due to the impending afternoon forecast for rain.

Freshman Karlie Miller (Wildomar, Calif. / Temescal Canyon) paced the Red Flash with two hits, including her first career double in the first game. Sophomore Katie McMellen (Kingsville, OH /Edgewood) (Kingsville, Ohio / Edgewood) drove in Saint Francis' only run on a groundout in the seventh inning. She also had a single in the fifth inning.

Sophomore Megan Layne (Vallejo, Calif./Rodriguez) (Vallejo, Calif. / Rodriguez) suffered the loss. She gave up six earned runs on seven hits, but struck out 10 and walked just two.

Monmouth hurler Lauren Sulick was strong in Game 2, giving up just two infield hits.

After giving up six runs in the top of the third inning, the Red Flash manufactured a run in the bottom half of the inning. Freshman Danielle DeDomenico (Cherry Hill, N.J. / Cherry Hill West) beat out an infield single, stole second base, moved to third base on a groundout and scored on an error.

However, the Hawks scored three runs in the fourth inning, and two more in the fifth to put the eight-run rule into effect in the 11-1 win.