The Fairleigh Dickinson University softball team dropped two games against Bryant University on April 3, in Hackensack, NJ.  With the losses, the Knights fall to 13-14 on the season (0-6 NEC).  The Bulldogs improve to 14-11 (6-0 NEC).

The Knights took a two-run lead early on in the first game with an RBI single from Caitlin Bradac (Garden Grove, CA/Garden Grove) and a sacrifice fly from Kirsten Shreve (Kent, WA/Kentwood).  The Bulldogs responded in the top of the third with back-to-back home runs to center field.  Bryant added another three runs in the fourth to take the lead, 7-2.

The Bulldogs added one more run in the fifth to make the score 8-2.  In the bottom of the fifth, the Knights added one run on an RBI single from Mikayla Fernandez (Mission Viejo, Calif./Mission Viejo).

In the bottom of the sixth, the Knights rallied for four runs on four hits with help from an RBI single from Maria Roney (Anacortes, WA/Anacortes), a sacrifice fly from Bradac and an RBI double from freshman Berkleigh Massey (Oceanside, CA/Rancho Buena Vista). 

Down one run in the seventh inning the Knights loaded the bases with just one out.  It looked as if the Knights could take the win when Roney hit a shot to deep-center field.  The Bryant centerfielder caught the ball at dead-center to end the game with a Bulldog win, 8-7. 

Shreve started the first game for the Knights and picked up the loss after allowing two runs, four hits and two walks in two innings.  Maire Shaughnessy (Culpeper, Va./Highland) pitched the remaining five innings for the Knights.  She allowed six runs on six hits and struck out three batters. 

In the second game the Bulldogs held the Knights to just three hits and no runs.  The game was scoreless until Bryant scored two runs in the third inning to take the lead.  The Knights were unable to respond to the Bulldogs who secured the win with six runs on six hits in the fifth inning.

The Knights fell, 8-0 in five innings.  Bradac received the loss after allowing ten hits, eight runs and two walks.  She struck out one batter in five innings of work. 

"We cannot afford to miss routine plays," said Head Coach Dale Martin.  "We need to capitalize when we have runners in position.  The little things are preventing us from winning."

The Knights pause Northeast Conference play to take on St. Peter's on Wednesday, April 6 in Jersey City, NJ.  They will be back in action at FDU on Saturday, April 9 in a match up with St. Francis PA.