CLERMONT, Fla. - Sophomore designated player Katie Nosky (Dedham, Mass.) knocked in three runs to lead the Simmons College softball team to a 6-3 victory over Monmouth College (Ill.) this afternoon at the 2015 Spring Games at Hancock Park in Clermont, Fla. The Sharks win their second straight game to improve to 3-4 on the season, while the Fighting Scots fall to 4-5.

Nosky ripped a three-run double as part of a five-run first inning for Simmons. Senior shortstop led off the bottom of the first by beating out an infield single and was followed by a one-out single to left from senior first baseman Jess Uschmann (Feeding Hills, Mass.) and junior Heather White (Westfield, Mass.), who reached on an error to load the bases. Senior starting pitcher Lauren Backhaus (Windsor, Conn.) drew a bases loaded walk to force in the first run of the game. Nosky cleared the bases with a double down the left field line to plate three runs and give the Sharks a 4-0 lead. Sophomore third baseman Kat Guillotte (New Bedford, Mass.) later rapped a double off the fence to bring home Nosky with the fifth run of the frame.

Monmouth got a run back in the top of the second when junior catcher Charlotte Park (Colona, Ill.) led off with a booming home run over the center field fence to cut the deficit to 5-1. 

The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fifth when Simmons scored its final run of the game to take a 6-1 lead. Backhaus worked a lead-off walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Nosky and scored when senior Alaina DeNoncour (Johnston, R.I.) reached on a two-out error.

The Fighting Scots rallied for two runs in the top of the sixth. Park and sophomore third baseman Morgan Throop (Springfield, Ill.) collected back-to-back two-out singles and scored on a double to right center by first year first baseman Liz Hippen (Toulon, Ill.) to pull Monmouth to within 6-3. It would be the final runs of the contest as the Sharks came away with the win.

Nosky added a run scored to her effort for Simmons, while Cunningham was 2-4 with a run scored. Park and Hippen each finished with a pair of hits for the Fighting Scots.

Backhaus improved to 3-1 with the win for the Sharks, allowing three runs on eight hits, while striking out three in seven innings. Senior Skylar Johnson (Glasford, Ill.) (0-2) suffered the loss after allowing five runs (four earned) on four hits and two walks to go with a strike out for Monmouth. Senior reliever Alyssa Edler (Forreston, Ill.) threw the final five innings for the Fighting Scots, allowing one unearned run on three hits and three walks in addition to two strikeouts.

The Sharks return to action today with a 5:00 p.m. contest at the National Training Center in Clermont, Fla. against Anderson University, while Monmouth hosts Millikin University in a doubleheader on March 22 at 2:00 p.m.