The Fairleigh Dickinson University softball team split a doubleheader with visiting intrastate rival Rutgers, falling 6-0 before defeating the Scarlet Knights 4-3, under the lights on Thursday evening at FDU Softball Field. The Knights move to 9-26, while the Scarlet Knights are now 19-29.
The Scarlet Knights put two runs on the board in the third inning as Amanda Shaw (Yorba Linda, CA) led off with a single. Kaitlyn Valiante (Mount Laurel, NJ) pushed her across the plate on a fielder's choice and she then scored on a Mandy Craig (Manassas, VA) single that dropped just inside the left line.
RU added another pair of runs in the fourth as Shantai Dixon (Sayreville, NJ) smacked a double down the line that scored Ashley Hartley (Ripon, CA) and a double from Amanda Heller (Belle Mead, NJ) scored Dixon.
Another two runs in the top of the sixth inning gave the Scarlet Knights a 6-0 lead as Shaw and Heller were plated.
The Knights had the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, but were unable to convert.
Trina Fields (Norridge, IL/Ridgewood) (Norridge, IL) scattered eight hits in seven innings, striking out six. Katye Hamlin (College Station, TX) and Chrissy Yard (Hillsborough, NJ) combined for a three-hitter.
FDU was first to strike in the second game as Justina Augustine (Geneva, NY/Geneva) (Geneva, NY) and Ali Keltos (Shelton, CT/Lauralton Hall) (Shelton, CT) reached on back-to-back walks. Kristen Coughlan (Mount Royal, NJ/Kingsway) (Mount Royal, NJ) moved them with a sacrifice bunt and Hope Hilman (Bremerton, WA/Olympic) (Bremerton, WA) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Lindsay Glidden (Peachtree City, GA/Starr's Mill)'s (Peachtree City, GA) sacrifice fly pushed Augustine across the plate for a 1-0 lead.
Mickenzie Alden's (Spokane, WA) sacrifice fly in the top of the second inning knotted the score, 1-1, as Craig scored. RU took the lead on an RBI single from Brittany Loisel (Gilbert, AZ) that pushed Jenn Meinheit (Anaheim Hills, CA) across the plate.
Meghan Doherty (Binghamton, NY/Binghamton) (Binghamton, NY) started things off for the Knights in the second inning as she sent a long single to right center field and she was followed by Jessica Klein (Jersey City, NJ/Holy Family Academy) (Jersey City, NJ), who was hit by a pitch. A double from Keltos tied the score at 2-2 when Doherty scored. Klein then gave FDU the lead when she took home on a wild pitch.
Augustine's home run in the fourth inning gave the Knights a 4-2 advantage. The home run was Augustine's second of the season and career.
After a play at the plate in the fifth inning was overruled due to a call of interference at third, the Scarlet Knights added a run. Augustine snagged a catch in center field and threw it in to Hilman at second for a double play to end the inning.
The Knights held on with solid pitching and defense to take the 4-3 win.
Augustine finished the game 2-for-3 and Doherty was 2-for-3. Ashley Buchanan (West Windsor, NY/West Windsor) (West Windsor, NY) earned the win, allowing only three hits and one earned run in seven innings of work.
“I was happy to see the girls bounce back after a disappointing first game,” said Head Coach Dale Martin. “They stepped up with timely hitting, solid defense and good pitching. Hopefully we can build off of this and take it into the weekend to build momentum for our conference games.”
The Knights are back in action when they host Saint Francis PA on Saturday, April 26 at 1:00 p.m.
