April 29, 2006

Box Score

HACKENSACK, NJ - The Fairleigh Dickinson University softball team was swept by visiting conference opponent Wagner in a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at FDU Softball Field. The Knights were unable to overcome a four-run third inning that the Seahawks posted to pull away with a 6-3 win in the first game, and the tying run was tagged out at the plate in the second game, giving Wagner the 3-2 win and the sweep. The Knights fall to 8-40 overall with a 5-14 mark in conference play, while Wagner improves to 31-15 overall, including 12-2 in the NEC.

Andrea Lazzari (Reno, NV) led off the third inning with a solo shot in the first game to give the Seahawks a 1-0 lead. Katie Stevens (Reno, NV) singled to the left side to reach base and Joy Gallagher (Hazleton, PA) pushed her across the plate with a single to the shortstop. Victoria Batistelli (Huntington Beach, CA) then shot a two-out two-run home run over the left field fence to give Wagner the 4-0 advantage.

The Knights got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning when Caitlyn Reuter (Richwood, NJ) led off the inning with a single. With two outs, Ali Keltos (Shelton, CT) started a rally when she drove an RBI single into right field to plate Reuter. Shauna Hawthorne (Largo, FL) followed her with a single to center field that pushed Keltos in to score.

Jaime Colvin (Fawn Grove, PA) had a double that advanced the runners and a fielding error on Stephanie Cahill (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson)'s (Cinnaminson, NJ) hit brought the Knights within one, 4-3, as pinch runner KC Hallgren (West Bend, WI) scored.

Wagner added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning off another two-run home run for Batistelli to seal the 6-3 victory.

The Seahawks carried the momentum into the second game of the day, as Natalie Stephens (Jackson, NJ) led off with a walk and scored on Batistelli's single through the left side.

After Wagner tacked on two runs in the top of the second inning, Ashley Buchanan (Windsor, NY) worked her way out of a bases loaded situation, striking out two. In the bottom half, Dana Myers (Levittown, PA) led off with a single up the middle, advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Jaime Colvin (Fawn Grove, PA) and was sent home on a fielding error to make it 3-1.

In the bottom of the seventh with one out, Webb pinch hit and drove a single up the middle. Jennifer Whitley (Eastport, NY) sent a long single to the shortstop to keep the Knights' chances alive and with two outs, Reuter doubled, driving in pinch runner Hallgren. Whitley, the tying run, was called out on a close play at the plate as the ball was relayed from center field.

The Knights close out their home regular season on Sunday, April 30 when they host a doubleheader against Cornell at noon. The three graduating seniors-- Holly Jones, Erin Mills and Jennifer Whitley (/Carle Place)--will be honored in a senior day ceremony between games