The Fairleigh Dickinson University softball team fell to host Lafayette, 7-5, and 12-0, in a doubleheader on Thursday evening. The Knights close out the regular season with an 11-39 overall record, while the Leopards improve to 15-27 on the season.
The Knights were the first to score in the first game, when Kristen Coughlan (Mount Royal, NJ/Kingsway) was hit by a pitch and earned an RBI for advancing the runners as Brianne Benedict (Alliance, OH/West Branch), who led off with a double to center field, scored.
Lafayette tied the game up in the bottom of the inning, but the Knights responded with a pair of runs in the top of the second as Meghan Doherty (Binghamton, NY/Binghamton) scored on an error and Justina Augustine (Geneva, NY/Geneva)'s RBI single pushed Brittany Sheppard (Mahwah, NJ/Paramus Catholic) across the plate.
The Knights were able to tack on two more runs in the top of the fourth as Augustine had a solo shot over the center field fence and Alex Schubert followed her with a double to left center. Kirsten Shreve (Kent, WA/Kentwood)'s single plated pinch runner Jessica Klein (Jersey City, NJ/Holy Family Academy).
It wasn't enough as Lafayette added three runs in the bottom of the fourth, one run run in the bottom of the fifth and one more in the sixth.
Augustine led the offense, going 2-for-3 with two RBI. Schubert and Shreve were each 2-for-4. Shreve struck out five in six innings. The Leopards added a run in the third to cut FDU's advantage to 3-2.
In the second game Lafayette put up four runs in the first inning and added two in the second inning. After scoring a trio of runs in the third and fourth innings, Lafayette was able to end the game in five innings with the 12-0 lead. The Leopards scored their 12 runs on 17 hits. Caitlin Bradac (Garden Grove, CA/Garden Grove) and Dana Walker (Middletown, DE/St. Marks) were each 1-for-2.
"We made too many errors in the first game," said Head Coach Dale Martin. "We still have a lot of learning to do and that is something that we will have to continue to work on in the off season as we move forward."
