Marist Box Score Norfolk State Box Score Marist 2 Box Score
The Fairleigh Dickinson University softball team went undefeated in three games to start the season at Norfolk State on Saturday, Feb. 18. The Knights earned wins over Norfolk State, 12-1, and Marist twice, 11-2 and 9-6.
A slow start by the Knights' defense allowed Marist to score two runs on three hits in the first inning of the morning game. The FDU offense responded quickly in the bottom of the first.
Elizabeth Woidt singled up the middle to start the inning, and advanced to third on two outfield errors. A single from Caitlin Bradac (Garden Grove, CA/Garden Grove) drove Woidt home to put the Knights on the board.
With Bradac on base, freshman Bryana Dorado (Oxnard, Calif./Oxnard) was hit by a pitch to put two runners on. Senior Kirsten Shreve (Kent, WA/Kentwood) gave the Knights the lead with a three-run home run to deep center field.
The Knights continued the offensive surge in the bottom of the second when another single by Bradac drove home freshman Cindy Zamudio (Wilmington, Calif./Redondo Union) and Woidt, who had both singled earlier in the inning. After a single by freshman Jordan Needle (Camarillo, CA/La Reina College Prep), Dorado recorded her first collegiate extra-base hit with a double to right center. Dorado's hit scored Bradac and Needle to give FDU an 8-2 lead after two innings.
In the fourth, Woidt reached on a single to right center before Bradac walked. With two runners on, Needle singled to load the bases with no outs. Dorado singled to drive home Woidt, bringing the score to 9-2. Shreve sealed the win for FDU with a two-run double to left center.
Junior Maire Shaughnessy (Culpeper, Va./Highland) earned the win for the Knights, with just two runs on four hits in five innings of play. Shaughnessy allowed just one hit after the first inning.
“After the first inning Maire settled down and really worked her pitched well,” said Head Coach Dale Martin. “It was exciting to get out of the gate quickly and perform well in our first game.”
The Knights started game two against Norfolk State with a four-run first inning. A string of hits with one out produced four runs on five hits.
In the second inning, Bradac homered to left field to give the Knights a 5-0 lead.
Mikayla Fernandez (Mission Viejo, Calif./Mission Viejo) doubled down the left field line in the third to score two runs. Walks by Marikka Benson (Lacey, WA/Timberline) and Maria Roney (Anacortes, WA/Anacortes) loaded the bases. Singles by Woidt and Zamudio each scored another run for FDU before Bradac doubled to left field to drive them home. The third inning add another five runs to take a 10-0 lead.
After holding Norfolk State to one hit through three innings, the Spartans strung together two doubles to score one run in the fourth inning.
Woidt brought the Knights' run total to 12 with a two-run shot in the top of the fifth. FDU took their second win of the day, 12-1, over NSU.
Megan Reiner (Los Angeles, Calif./John Marshall) earned the win in her collegiate debut. She allowed one run on three kids, while striking out four batters.
Bradac led the Knights offensively with four RBIs in game two. She went 4-for-4 on the day at the plate. Woidt added three RBIs, while going 3-for-4.
Zamudio doubled to left field to begin the rematch with Marist. Bradac singled to drive Zamudio home to give the Knights a 1-0 lead. In the top of the second, the Knights made the score 2-0 when Benson scored on a sacrifice fly from Woidt.
The Red Foxes responded, scoring two runs in the bottom of the second by stringing three together singles. They also added two runs in the third inning.
In the fifth, Dorado singled down the left field line to drive home Bradac who had singled earlier in the inning. Paige Castro (Elk Grove, CA/Franklin) drove home two more runs with a single to left center. Roney then doubled to center field to drive home the fifth and sixth runs of the inning. As they entered the bottom of the sixth, the Knights led 8-4.
A Marist runner reached base in the bottom of the sixth on an FDU throwing error. The next batter homered to center field to score two runs, but it would be the end of the Red Fox offense.
The Knights allowed no run in the bottom of the seventh to take the win, 9-6.
Bradac started the game on the mound for FDU. She allowed two earned runs on four hits and struck out four batters in 2.2 innings. Shaughnessy pitched 2.1 innings to earn her second win of the season. Reiner finished out the game with no hits and two strikeouts in 2.0 innings. Reiner earned her first save of the season.
On the day, the Knights were led by Bradac, who went 9-for-10 with eight RBIs. Dorado went 6-for-10 with five RBIs in her collegiate debut. Shreve also added five RBIs for the Knights.
“The pitching was solid and our team played great defense today,” added Martin. “The team really supported one another, getting crucial hits when it mattered.”
“These were great things to see early in the season. We're looking forward to continuing the success.”
The Knights will travel to Baltimore March 2-4 to play in the UMBC Retriever Classic. They will face Niagara, Coppin State and UMBC.
