The Fairleigh Dickinson University softball team split a Northeast Conference doubleheader against visiting Sacred Heart on Saturday, April 12 at FDU Softball Field as the Knights won the first game 4-0, but fell, 7-1, in the second. The Knights move to 6-17 overall, with a 2-6 record in league play, while the Pioneers are now 16-17 overall, including a 7-3 record in conference action.
After Sacred Heart got its lead runner on in the third inning as Melissa Mezzanotte (North Haven, CT) bunted for a single, the Knights posted a strong defensive effort. Maria Finnegan (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) (Sewell, NJ) chased down a foul tip behind the plate and on the next play, Justina Augustine (Geneva, NY/Geneva) (Geneva, NY) ran down a fly ball and then shot it to first to make the double play.
After three and a half innings, the Knights were first to get on the board as Finnegan stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. Finnegan was hit by a pitch after a long at bat to plate Kristen Coughlan (Mount Royal, NJ/Kingsway) (Mount Royal, NJ).
Brittany Sheppard (Mahwah, NJ/Paramus Catholic) (Mahwah, NJ) dropped in a hit behind second base to push Hope Hilman (Bremerton, WA/Olympic) (Bremerton, WA) across the plate to add to the Knights' lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Hilman reached first on a walk to lead off the inning.
An RBI double to right center by Meghan Doherty (Binghamton, NY/Binghamton) (Binghamton, NY) sent Sheppard home and Augustine's single down the right line scored Doherty.
Trina Fields (Norridge, IL/Ridgewood) (Norridge, IL) earned the win, striking out eight, walking only and scattering five hits. Lindsay Glidden (Peachtree City, GA/Starr's Mill) (Peachtree City, GA) went 2-for-4, while Sheppard and Doherty were both 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored.
In the first inning of the second game, with two people on base, Coughlan made a strong play at first to get the second out of the inning. But Betsy Harvey (Unionville, CT) smacked a two-run double to the fence to plate Mezzanotte and Adrian Fitzsimon (Sacramento, CA), who both reached on singles, to grab an early 2-0 lead for the Pioneers.
The Pioneers tacked on two more runs in the second inning as Shannon McCoy (Yorba Linda, CA) started things off with a single and Taylor Froelich (Garden Grove, CA) sent one over the center field fence.
Benedict started the fourth inning with a single as she beat out the throw from the third baseman. Hilman shot one through the right side to push her across the plate and make the score 4-1. Glidden had a long shot to right field, but Jessica Perez (Santa Maria, CA) had a diving catch to end the inning.
Sacred Heart put two more runs on in the fifth inning on a single to right center by McCoy. On the second pitch of the sixth inning, Froelich sent her second home run of the game over the fence for a 7-1 edge.
Jen Russell (Seymour, CT) was on the mound for the Pioneers, scattering five hits, walking one and striking out three. Ashley Buchanan (West Windsor, NY/West Windsor) (West Windsor, NY) took the loss, striking out three and walking none. Coughlan and Hilman each went 2-for-3.
"The first game, I thought that we executed very well," said Head Coach Dale Martin. "We came up with some crucial hits and we made some good defensive plays. The fact that we played the game error-free definitely contributed to our win."
"I thought that in the second game, although the score didn't show it, we played solid," said Martin. "But we needed to continue to be more aggressive on defense to get lead runners and to avoid giving up runs. We had two outs and allowed them to get runs in more than one inning. We have to do a better job of closing the door and getting that third out right away."
The Knights are back in action at Columbia on Tuesday, April 15 for a doubleheader with first pitch at 3:00 p.m.
