The Fairleigh Dickinson University softball team split a doubleheader at Columbia on Tuesday afternoon, falling 4-0 in the first game before bouncing back to win the second contest, 6-3. The Knights move to 7-18, while the Lions are now 13-25.
In the first game of the afternoon, Columbia put up three runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Lions added one more run in the bottom of the sixth to take the 4-0 lead. The Knights had five hits, but were unable to convert. Trina Fields (Norridge, IL/Ridgewood) pitched a two-hitter for the Knights in the loss, allowing only one earned run and striking out six.
Jennifer Boldman (Winter Haven, FL/Winter Haven) went 1-for-2 and Brianne Benedict (Alliance, OH/West Branch), Lindsay Glidden (Peachtree City, GA/Starr's Mill) and Kim Carbaugh (Johnstown, PA/Richland) were 1-for-3.
The Knights won the second game, 6-3, as Glidden went 3-for-4 with three RBI. Meghan Doherty (Binghamton, NY/Binghamton) was 2-for-2 and Brittany Sheppard (Mahwah, NJ/Paramus Catholic), Hope Hilman (Bremerton, WA/Olympic) and Carbaugh were 2-for-4.
Ashley Buchanan (West Windsor, NY/West Windsor) pitched 4.2 innings, scattering seven hits. Fields pitched the final 2.1 on the mound, allowing only one hit.
The Knights' bats started early in the second game, as they posted three runs in the top of the first inning. Ali Keltos (Shelton, CT/Lauralton Hall) started things off with a single to left center and Hilman's single to left field advanced her. Glidden smacked a home run to left center to give FDU a 3-0 lead.
The Lions made it 3-2 in the bottom half of the inning as Keli Leong singled up the middle and Dani Pineda homered to right center to plate a pair of runs.
Doherty began things in the second inning with a single to right center. Boldman drew a walk and Benedict singled up the middle to push Doherty across the plate to give the Knights a 4-2 advantage.
Columbia added a run in the bottom of the fifth, but the Knights sealed the win with two runs in the sixth inning. Coughlan was hit by a pitch to leadoff the inning and advanced two bases on a wild pitch. Carbaugh singled up the middle to plate her. Doherty's sacrifice hit advanced the runner and Benedict's sacrifice fly scored pinch runner Jessica Klein (Jersey City, NJ/Holy Family Academy). FDU put 14 hits in the book with no errors.
"Trina pitched very well in the first game, but a compilation of mistakes really hurt us," said Head Coach Dale Martin. "We had leadoff batters on base, but we just didn't execute to get runs."
"The girls made great adjustments in the second game and we had 14 hits. Ashley pitched very well and Trina came back in and got the save, plus we played error-less defense. It was very nice to see the team step up in many different ways."
