The Fairleigh Dickinson University softball team split a pair of games in West Point, NY against the Black Knights of Army. FDU defeated Army 10-4 in the first game of a double-header but fell to the Black Knights, 3-1, in the second game. The Knights move to 13-10 on the season.
The Knights took a four run lead early on with help from a first-inning home run from Caitlin Bradac (Garden Grove, CA/Garden Grove). The long ball scored Berkleigh Massey (Oceanside, CA/Rancho Buena Vista), Maria Roney (Anacortes, WA/Anacortes) and Mikayla Fernandez (Mission Viejo, Calif./Mission Viejo).
Army tallied two runs in the bottom of the third on four consecutive singles but FDU was quick to respond. The Knights increased their lead to six runs in the top of the fourth on a Fernandez home run. Roney ended the inning with a two RBI double to left field to advance the Knights' lead to 8-2.
The Black Knights and Knights each scored two runs in the sixth and seventh innings, respectively to bring the final score to 10-4. The Knights saw a strong outing from Bradac on the mound as she recorded 5.2 innings, allowing 10 hits and striking out four. Maire Shaughnessy (Culpeper, Va./Highland) earned the save after 1.1 innings of work.
FDU and Army traded runs to start the game. After a pair of doubles scored one run for the Black Knights, Massey responded with a home run to center field, tying the game at one after two innings.
The game saw no runs scored in the third and fourth inning. In the bottom of the fifth the Black Knights scored two runs on a handful of hits. The Black Knights maintained the two-run lead through the end of the game and took the win, 3-1.
Kirsten Shreve (Kent, WA/Kentwood) took the loss for the Knights, with four hits in six innings of work. She allowed three earned runs and three walks, while striking out five batters.
The Knights are back in action Saturday, April 2 as they take on Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, CT. First-pitch in the double header is scheduled for 1:00 pm.
