MONROE LAUNCHES GRAND SLAM FOR NORTHEAST IN REGULAR-SEASON FINALE

NORFOLK, Neb. – The Northeast Community College softball team battled in their final contest of the regular season Monday at Ta-Ha Zouka Park in Norfolk against Ellsworth Community College. The Hawks fell in both matchups by final scores of 6-3 and 19-8.

Northeast (5-38, 2-26 ICCAC) got on the board first in Game 1 as Malika Monroe (Valentine, Neb.) scored on a Lauren Lucero (Berthoud, Colo.) ground out. The Panthers went on to score in the fourth, fifth and sixth frames and led until the Hawks rallied in the bottom of the seventh with RBIs from Grace Sievers (Gibbon, Neb.) and Talia Bandt (Grand Island, Neb.) before ultimately dropping the showdown.

Game 2 saw Northeast fall behind early until a giant rally in the fifth inning brought the home crowd to their feet. Malika Monroe (Valentine, Neb.) blasted her seventh home run of the season in the form of a grand slam to record four RBIs while Kelsey Choplin (Gibbon, Neb.) tallied two RBIs of her own. The Hawks will now shift their focus to the Region 11-A Tournament and postseason play this weekend in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

STAT SHEET GAME 1:

Lauren Lucero (Berthoud, Colo.): 1-3, RBI

Grace Sievers (Gibbon, Neb.): 1-4, RBI

Talia Bandt (Grand Island, Neb.): 0-3

STAT SHEET GAME 2:

Malika Monroe (Valentine, Neb.): 1-4, HR, R, 4 RBI

Kelsey Choplin (Gibbon, Neb.): 2-4, R, 2 RBI

Talia Bandt (Grand Island, Neb.): 3-4, 2B R, RBI

HEAR FROM THE HAWKS COACH:

Head Softball Coach Erin Sharpe on the doubleheader with Ellsworth Monday:

"I think overall we stayed in both games for the most part," Sharpe said. "Our hitting had spurts of energy. That was good to see."

Sharpe on what she is looking forward to with postseason play on deck:

"I'm excited for the postseason because everyone starts fresh and can work from there," Sharpe said. "If we come with the right energy and mindset, we can do some work."

UP NEXT:

The Hawks will compete in the Region 11-A Tournament against No. 8 Kirkwood Community College beginning at 2 p.m. Friday in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

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