The Fairleigh Dickinson University softball team split its doubleheader at the Rebel Spring Games in Orlando, FL, dropping a tight nine-inning game, 6-5, to IUPUI, before routing Rider, 12-4, in a shortened five-inning game in the second game of the day.

The Knights jumped out to a lead against IUPUI as Kristen Coughlan led off with a single to left field. Caitlyn Reuter (Richwood, NJ/Clearview Regional) was hit by a pitch and Lindsay Glidden had a sacrifice hit to advance her. Both scored on a double from Jaime Colvin (Fawn Grove, PA/Kennard-Dale).

The Knights held the lead entering the seventh inning, but the Jaguars were able to tie it up, 5-5, to send the game into extra innings.

The international tiebreaker rules were put into effect, putting a player on second. Neither team scored in the eighth inning, and the Knights were unable to convert again in the top of the ninth. Rider stole third and then used an RBI single to win the game for IUPUI. Ashley Buchanan (West Windsor, NY/West Windsor) pitched the first five innings for the Knights, with Trina Fields closing out the last two.

The Knights scored 12 runs on 13 hits against Rider, leading 2-0 after the first inning. They picked up five more in the third inning and four more in the fourth. In the top of the fifth inning, the Broncs put all four of their runs on the board, but FDU came back with a single run to end the game in five innings.

Fields took the win, pitching all five innings for the Knights. Ali Keltos (Shelton, CT/Lauralton Hall) gave the Knights three RBI and Dana Myers (Levittown, PA/Harry S. Truman) had two.

Kristen Coughlan was 4-for-8 on the day, with three runs scored.

The Knights are back in action tomorrow, completing competition at the Rebel Spring Games as they play Vermont at 11:00 a.m. and Hartford at 3:00 p.m.