The Fairleigh Dickinson University softball team fell to host Quinnipiac, 4-2 before dropping a 3-2 decision in extra innings on Sunday afternoon in Hamden, CT.
The first game of the day was scoreless until FDU put one on the board in the top of the fifth inning. Pitcher Trina Fields (Norridge, IL/Ridgewood) sent the ball over the left centerfield fence. Quinnipiac tied the game in the bottom of the inning as Cary Simms singled to right field to plate Kelly Wall. The Bobcats added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth.
The Knights put one more run on the board in the top of the seventh as Brianne Benedict (Alliance, OH/West Branch) and Fields led the inning off with back-to-back walks. Ali Keltos (Shelton, CT/Lauralton Hall) singled to left field and Brittany Sheppard (Mahwah, NJ/Paramus Catholic)'s sacrifice fly to plate Benedict. It wasn't enough as FDU fell 4-2.
Keltos went 3-for-4 and Fields helped her own cause, going 2-for-2 with a walk. On the mound, Fields pitched six innings, walking one and allowing two earned runs.
Fairleigh Dickinson and Quinnipiac battled through seven scoreless innings before the Knights were able to put two runs on the board in the eighth inning. Lindsay Glidden (Peachtree City, GA/Starr's Mill) and Meghan Doherty (Binghamton, NY/Binghamton) led off with back-to-back walks. Justina Augustine (Geneva, NY/Geneva) singled through the right side and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Finnegan, pinch running for Glidden scored and a ground out to second by Benedict plated Doherty.
The Bobcats tied up the game in the bottom of the inning to send the game into the ninth. Hope Hilman (Bremerton, WA/Olympic) tried to get things going in the top of the inning with a single up the middle, but they were unable to score her.
Quinnipiac scored the game-winning run on Emily Bellush's double to left field. The Knights scored two runs on three hits, while the Bobcats scored three runs on nine hits. Ashley Buchanan (West Windsor, NY/West Windsor) pitched 8.2 innings, allowing one earned run and striking out four.
The Knights are back in action at Fordham at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8.
