The Fairleigh Dickinson University softball team posted its first Northeast Conference sweep of the season in the form of 8-7 and 5-2 victories against visiting Central Connecticut State on Saturday afternoon. The wins make program history for the Knights, as it improves the team's record to 16-30 overall (6-12 NEC), breaking the win record (15 in 2004).
The Knights haven't swept a conference series since March 31, 2007, when they took both games against Saint Francis PA.
The Blue Devils fall to 19-29 on the season, with a 7-11 record in league action.
In the first inning of the first game, Rebecca Mussatti and Sara Burdrick led off with back-to-back walks and Jaclyn Logan's home run to left field put the Blue Devils ahead, 3-0.
The Knights' offense responded in the bottom half of the inning as Kirsten Shreve (Kent, WA/Kentwood), Kristen Kinneer (Pottstown, PA/St. Peter's) and Mikayla Fernandez (Mission Viejo, Calif./Mission Viejo) started things off with singles, as Shreve scored on Fernandez's hit. With one out, Brianne Benedict (Alliance, OH/West Branch)'s single plated Kinneer and Maire Shaughnessy (Culpeper, Va./Highland)'s hit dropped in right behind the pitcher to score Fernandez and tie the game at 3-3.
With a 3-2 count and the bases loaded, Kinneer hit a one-out two-run double up the middle to put the Knights ahead.
An RBI single from Central's Sara Budrick in the fifth inning cut Fairleigh Dickinson's lead to one run and three runs in the top of the sixth gave Central the 7-5 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Knights were able to load the bases as pinch hitter Alex Schubert sent one into right field for a single and Kristen Coughlan (Mount Royal, NJ/Kingsway) and Liz Woidt (Binghamton, N.Y./Binghamton) followed with bunt singles. A sacrifice fly to left field by Kinneer plated Shaughnessy and Fernandez drew a walk to load the bases again with two outs and relief pitcher Caitlin Bradac (Garden Grove, CA/Garden Grove) up to the plate. Bradac sent a shot through the left side to push two runs across the plate and return the lead to the Knights, 8-7.
Bradac fanned all three batters in the top of the seventh to end the game and earn the win, while Trina Fields (Norridge, IL/Ridgewood) started the game, striking out three and scattering five hits in five innings of work.
The Blue Devils put two runs on the board in the first inning of the second game and the Knights answered in the bottom of the second as Coughlan had an RBI single and Dana Walker (Middletown, DE/St. Marks) drove in two runs with a shot down the line. Shreve's double to the right center fence scored Walker and Fernandez singled through the left side to send Shreve across the plate, giving FDU a 4-2 lead.
Benedict's home run in the bottom of the fifth inning added to the FDU lead. Bradac earned the win, allowing two earned runs, walking none and striking out two.
Benedict led the Knights' offense for the day, going 5-for-7 with two RBI, while Walker was 2-for-3 with a pair of runs knocked in. Fernandez was 4-for-6 on the day and Liz Woidt (Binghamton, N.Y./Binghamton) went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
Coughlan was 3-for-5 and Kinneer had a team-high three RBI in the two games.
"It was a good day for us," said Head Coach Dale Martin. The sweep of an NEC doubleheader was the first under Martin, who took over the team for the 2008 season.
"The girls worked hard, they made a lot of good plays," said Martin. "Hitting was solid all day long. In both games we started down and they battled back, showing resiliency. I like the fact that we've put some wins together; we'll have to see if we can take this momentum into next weekend."
FDU closes out the regular season on Saturday, May 8 when the Knights host Quinnipiac.
The four seniors on the team, Coughlan, Fields, Lindsay Glidden (Peachtree City, GA/Starr's Mill) and Kinneer, were all honored as part of senior day prior to the start of the second game.
