In its conference season opener, the Fairleigh Dickinson softball team split a doubleheader with visiting Monmouth, losing the first game 11-1 in five innings and defeating the Hawks, 8-6, in the second game on Saturday afternoon at FDU Softball Field.

In the first game of the day, Monmouth opened scoring in the first inning, as Nichole Alvarez started things with a lead off single and Jessica Nicola sent a two-out two-run home run over the left center fence to give the Hawks the lead.

MU tacked on one more run in the second as Abby Martin reached on a fielder's choice and was plated on an RBI single up the middle by Alvarez.

The Hawks put four runs on the board in the third inning as Candice Palumbo had an RBI walk and Gina Mignona smacked a two-run single, scoring Palumbo on the throw.

Another four runs in the fourth inning gave the Hawks an 11-0 lead, but the Knights got on the board in the bottom of the inning as Hope Hilman (Bremerton, WA/Olympic) was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Lindsay Glidden (Peachtree City, GA/Starr's Mill) hit a single and Kim Carbaugh (Johnstown, PA/Richland) followed it with a single to plate Hilman and put the Knights on the board.

Kristine Sawsville earned the win on the mound for the Hawks, striking out 10 and allowing only two hits.

The Knights put up a big fourth inning to win the second game, 8-6.

Alexa Ferrara's home run in the top of the second inning staked Monmouth to a 1-0 advantage in the second game of the afternoon.

The Knights responded with two runs in the bottom of the third inning as Brianne Benedict (Alliance, OH/West Branch) pushed a single through the left side. A double to right field from Justina Augustine (Geneva, NY/Geneva) advanced her and Ali Keltos (Shelton, CT/Lauralton Hall) plated Benedict with a single. Brittany Sheppard (Mahwah, NJ/Paramus Catholic) sent a sacrifice fly to the right field fence to push Augustine across the plate.

Six runs for the Knights in the bottom of the fourth inning gave FDU an 8-1 lead. Carbaugh led the inning off with a home run, Keltos drew a walk with the bases loaded to plate Trina Fields (Norridge, IL/Ridgewood), who reached on a single. Sheppard lined a three-run single into right field.

Monmouth came back with a run in the top of the fifth on an RBI double from Lee Simonetti, and then posted a four-run sixth inning to make it only a two-run game. But the Knights' defense was able to allow only four batters in the seventh inning to seal the win.

Sheppard finished 2-for-3 with four RBI, while Benedict was 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Keltos went 1-for-3 with one run scored and two runs batted in. Trina Fields (Norridge, IL/Ridgewood) picked up her fourth win of the season on the mound for the Knights, pitching a complete game. She struck out seven while only allowing one walk.

"I was very pleased with the way we bounced back from the first game," said Head Coach Dale Martin. "I think that we came out and we did a nice job hitting and, for the most part, we played solid defense as well. Games like that can be pivotal points in a season because it is a game that you can build off of. We got off to an early lead, we gave runs back but the girls stayed with it and fought through it. That's a great sign. We started the day off a little flat, but that is from not playing a game in eight days."

The Knights are back in action on Sunday, March 30 as they host Mount St. Mary's in a doubleheader starting at noon.