The Fairleigh Dickinson University softball team won two games at the Norfolk State Tournament on Sunday, February 27, defeating both Norfolk State and George Washington. With the wins the Knights improve to 3-1 on the season.
The Knights took on host Norfolk State at 3:00 pm on Sunday. Norfolk State started the game with two hits and two runs in the bottom of the first before FDU responded with two runs on three hits of their own. Freshman Berkleigh Massey (Oceanside, CA/Rancho Buena Vista) started the Knights off with a single before sophomore Maire Shaughnessy (Culpeper, Va./Highland) doubled right center. Lauren Hamilton (Woodinville, WA/Woodinville) doubled to left field to drive home two run, tying the game at two.
The score remained tied at two until the top of the sixth inning. Mikayla Fernandez (Mission Viejo, Calif./Mission Viejo) singled up the middle to start the inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Caitlin Bradac (Garden Grove, CA/Garden Grove). Massey doubled down the left-field line to drive home Fernandez as the go-ahead run.
After five strong innings from Shaughnessy, Kirsten Shreve (Kent, WA/Kentwood) took over on the mound in the sixth inning. The Knights held the Spartans scoreless through the final two innings and took the win, 3-2.
Hamilton led the team with two RBIs, while Massey recorded one. Fernandez and Massey led the team with two hits each.
In five innings Shaughnessy allowed only two hits and two earned runs. She recorded one strike out and two walks. Shreve recorded her first save of the season with two scoreless innings. She allowed no hits and struck out two batters.
The Knights faced George Washington in the second game of the day. GW scored first with one run on two hits in the top of the second. In the bottom of the third, Benson singled to center and stole second base. Freshman Paige Castro (Elk Grove, CA/Franklin) singled to right to drive home Benson.
In the bottom of the fourth Shaughnessy singled up the middle and advanced to second when Bradac reached first on an error. Maria Roney (Anacortes, WA/Anacortes) reached first on a throwing error to load the bases. Benson singled to center-field to score two runs, giving the Knights a 4-2 lead.
The Knights scored two more in the fifth before FDU and NSU each scored two runs in the sixth inning.
Shreve entered the game in her second relief attempt on the day in the seventh inning. With the bases loaded she allowed two runs to score but forced a ground-out to end the game. Shreve recorded her second save of the day and the Knights took the win, 7-5.
Bradac recorded her first win on the season with three earned runs on five hits in five innings pitched. She struck out seven batters and walked three.
Offensively the Knights were led by Castro, Shaughnessy and Benson who each went two-for-three on the day. Benson recorded two RBIs, while Bradac went one-for-four with two RBIs.
"We did a very nice job today," said Head Coach Dale Martin. "We kept battling and continued to get runs."
"We played solid defense and learned a lot about the team and their capabilities."
The Knights are back in action Friday, March 4-Sunday, March 6 at the Hampton University Tournament in Hampton, VA. The Knights will face Marist, UMES, Brown and Hampton in the three-day tournament.
