WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – A four-run first inning proved too much for North Carolina A&T to overcome in a 6-2 Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) loss to the Monmouth Hawks in softball on Sunday at MU Softball Park.

With Sunday's win, Monmouth won the series 2-1 over the Aggies after the two teams split a doubleheader on Friday. Senior Katriel Williams had a 2-for-3 day with two runs scored for the Aggies, who dropped to 19-31 overall and 4-17 in the conference. Carah Sumpter (W, 6-4) played a major role in Monmouth's victory. She not only got the win in the circle, but Sumpter went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

Sumpter helped the Hawks reach 20-28 overall and 10-11 in conference play. Junior Devin Long (L, 5-11) started the game for the Aggies by walking Dominique Lopez. An error let Lopez score and Bri Lawson reach third. After a groundout, Mackenzie Bloss doubled for an RBI, and Sumpter singled to drive in two more runs.

A Jayla Cadena walk set up Gianna Stern's RBI double for Monmouth's fourth run in the first. Junior Aaliyah Williams relieved Long and retired Lopez to end the inning. A&T got one run back in the second.

Katriel Williams singled with one out, then stole second after Tyra Robinson lined out. Freshman Ava McCauley doubled to drive in Williams, narrowing Monmouth's lead to 4-1. Sumpter responded with an RBI double in the second to restore Monmouth's four-run advantage.

Aaliyah Williams quieted the Monmouth bats in the third, allowing the Aggies to cut into the Hawks' lead in the visitors' fourth. Katriel Williams reached base again by opening the frame with another single. Once again, Katriel Williams stole second and eventually moved to third on a passed ball. That allowed Robinson to bring her home with an RBI groundout before the inning ended with a strikeout and a groundout. Monmouth added another run in the fifth inning on an RBI sacrifice fly.

The Aggies could not mount any offense from there. The Aggies CAA regular-season series finale starts on Thursday, April 30, at 4 p.m., at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex.