The Fairleigh Dickinson University softball team dropped two games in its home Northeast Conference opener against Robert Morris University.  With the losses the Knights drop to 12-9 (0-2 NEC) on the season while the Colonials improve to 10-17 (2-2 NEC).

The Colonials took an early 2-0 lead in game one on two RBI singles.  They extended their lead to four runs in the third a Knight error and two-extra base hits.

The Knights responded with two runs of their own when freshman Marie Roney (Anacortes, WA/Anacortes) hit a two-out double to center field to knock in Lauren Hamilton (Woodinville, WA/Woodinville) who walked earlier in the inning.  Maire Shaughnessy (Culpeper, Va./Highland) (Culpeper, VA/Highland) smacked a double to left field to drive home Roney, bringing the score to 4-2.

RMU increased their lead to 5-2 in the fifth inning when Jessica Calderone hit a home run to center field.  Sarah Capp scored on a fielding error by FDU with two outs in the fifth to increase the deficit to four runs.

The Colonials finished the first-game of the double header with one more run in the top of the seventh, bringing the final score to 7-2.

Kirsten Shreve (Kent, WA/Kentwood) (Kent, WA/Kentwood) pitched game one for the Knights.  She allowed eight hits in 4.2 innings of work.  She walked one and gave up eight hits.

The Knights struggled in game two.  They amassed only four hits through seven innings and were held scoreless.  They also recorded five errors.  The Colonials scored seven runs on 10 hits.

Shaughnessy pitched game two for FDU.  She allowed only four earned runs, walk three and struck out two batters. 

FDU returns to action on Wednesday, March 30 when they travel to West Point, NY to take on Army.