The Fairleigh Dickinson University softball team was swept in a doubleheader against visiting Mount St. Mary's, falling, 8-0, in five innings in the first game and 7-0 in the second game on Sunday afternoon at FDU Softball Field.
The Mount started scoring early in the first game, putting three runs on the board in the top of the first inning on three hits and two errors.
In the third inning, the Mountaineers added another run on a two-out RBI blooper by Amy Allison (Severn, MD) that dropped in behind second base, scoring Courtney Zingle (Ambler, PA) to make it a 4-0 lead by MSM.
Nicole Reeder (Glen Burnie, MD) and Jenna Zimmerman (Walkersville, MD) drew back-to-back walks to get on base and Jessica Burke (Purcellville, VA) drove them both in with a double to the center field fence in the fifth inning. Lisa Curreri (Clinton, NJ) shot a long double to right field and then advanced on the throw to plate Burke and give the Mount a 7-0 advantage.
Jamie Fowler (Hagerstown, MD) pitched a one-hitter in five innings for the Mount, walking three. Ashley Buchanan (West Windsor, NY/West Windsor) (West Windsor, NY)was on the mound for the Knights, allowing five earned runs.
The second game of the day was scoreless until Mount's Curreri sent a long ball out of left center field in the third inning. With one out, and Kristin Fusco (Laurel, MD) on first base, Amanda Burk (Bristow, VA) sent a two-run shot over the fence to add to the Mount's lead, 3-0.
The Knights' best chance to score came in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Justina Augustine (Geneva, NY/Geneva) (Geneva, NY) led off with a single. Brittany Sheppard (Mahwah, NJ/Paramus Catholic) (Mahwah, NJ) reached on a fielder's choice and Hope Hilman (Bremerton, WA/Olympic) (Bremerton, WA) sent a single to centerfield. Lindsay Glidden (Peachtree City, GA/Starr's Mill) (Peachtree City, GA) came up to the plate with two on and two out, but her fly to left center fell just inside the fence for the final out of the inning.
The Mount put four more runs on the board in the seventh inning for a 7-0 lead on an RBI walk by Allison and a two-run single by Zingle.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Kim Carbaugh (Johnstown, PA/Richland) (Johnstown, PA) and Kristen Coughlan (Mount Royal, NJ/Kingsway) (Mount Royal, NJ) led off with back-to-back singles through the right side. Augustine had a long shot to the outfield, but Zingle made a diving catch to end the game.
Hilman led the Knights on offense, going 2-for-3 at the plate. Trina Fields (Norridge, IL/Ridgewood) (Norridge, IL), on the mound for the Knights, struck out four.
Amanda Hanson (La Plata, MD) struck out two and walked one, scattering six hits in seven innings for Mount St. Mary's.
"Mount played very well- they hit the ball well and made big plays when they had to," said Head Coach Dale Martin. "We can continue to strive to do those things in the future. We have to continue to focus on attention to detail and believing in our capabilities. We can't afford to take innings off."
The Knights are back in action on Tuesday, April 1 at St. Joseph's in Philadelphia, PA.
