The Fairleigh Dickinson University softball team was swept by visiting Wagner on Monday afternoon in a Northeast Conference doubleheader, dropping a 12-6 decision in the first game and falling 8-1 in the nightcap as the Seahawks scored a run in each of the last four innings. The Seahawks are now 14-22 overall with a 3-7 record in league play, while the Knights fall to 8-28 on the season, with a 3-9 mark in conference action.
The Seahawks picked up five early runs in the first inning to take the lead. Wagner added a four-run fourth inning for the 9-0 edge as Andrea Lazzari had a three-run shot just inside the left foul pole.
With the bases loaded in the top of the fourth, Allaire Primiano (Tarrytown, NY/Sleepy Hollow) (Tarrytown, NY) caught a high line drive to end the inning.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Knights got on the board as Lindsay Glidden (Peachtree City, GA/Starr's Mill) (Peachtree City, GA) sent the first pitch of her at bat over the center field fence with Justina Augustine (Geneva, NY/Geneva) (Geneva, NY) and Kirsten Shreve (Kent, WA/Kentwood) (Kent, WA) on base. The home run was her second of the season.
With two on in the fifth, Trina Fields (Norridge, IL/Ridgewood) (Norridge, IL) fanned two straight batters to end the inning.
Glidden's bat stayed hot in the fifth inning as she sent a shot to the left center field fence that fell just inside for a double, scoring Shreve and Augustine. Alex Schubert (Maybrook, NY) followed her with a hard hit single to right center to plate Glidden and make it a 9-6 game.
Hailey Corthell added to the Seahawks' advantage in the leadoff spot on the first pitch in the seventh inning with a home run into left center field. With one out, Lazzari's two-run home run gave Wagner the 12-6 win.
The Knights' offense was efficient, scoring eight runs on six hits. Glidden finished the game 2-for-4 with five RBI and Augustine was 2-for-4. “Lindsay had a great offensive game,” said Head Coach Dale Martin.
FDU loaded the bases in the bottom of the second inning in the second game, but were unable to push the runners across the plate. Wagner scored twice in the top of the fourth inning to take the lead.
The Knights got on the board as Primiano smacked a long single that hit the top of the fence and fell back into the field of play, plating Kim Carbaugh (Johnstown, PA/Richland) (Johnstown, PA) to make it a 2-1 game.
The Seahawks responded in the top of the fifth inning as Lazzari led off with her third home run of the day, a solo shot over the left field fence. Wagner added two more runs in the inning for a 5-1 lead.
Amanda Garcia's two-run home run in the sixth inning put Wagner ahead by six; the Knights loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning, but stranded all three. Wagner added one more run in the top of the seventh inning to make the final 8-1.
“I think defensively we just need to do a better job of supporting our pitching,” said Martin. “We have to work harder to get timely hitting again- we've been sporadic and inconsistent. Hopefully we can sort that out this week as we are preparing for the weekend. At times, I think we complicate situations and get away from fundamental softball and that hurts as well.”
The Knights will travel to Monmouth for a doubleheader on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. and Mount St. Mary's on Sunday at 12:00 p.m.
