Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
The Fairleigh Dickinson University began Northeast Conference play with two come-from behind wins over Central Connecticut State University on Sunday, March 25 in Hackensack, NJ. The Knights earned two 3-2 wins to improve to 16-5 on the season with a 2-0 mark in conference play.
The freshmen class led the way for FDU as pitcher Megan Reiner (Los Angeles, Calif./John Marshall) earned the win in both games, while Bryana Dorado (Oxnard, Calif./Oxnard), Cindy Zamudio (Wilmington, Calif./Redondo Union) and Jordan Needle (Camarillo, CA/La Reina College Prep) recorded all of the team's six RBIs on the day.
Central Connecticut took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when a walked batter scored on a double down the right-field line.
In the top of the third, a Blue Devil runner reached on an FDU error. The runner advanced to third before scoring on a ground out to give CCSU a 2-0 lead.
Reiner and the Knights held CCSU scoreless through the sixth inning.
A lead-off home run from Needle put the Knights on the board and cut the lead to just one run in the sixth inning. The Knights held CCSU off the scoreboard in the seventh and went into their last at bats down by just one run.
Zamudio led off the seventh inning with a home run to left center, tying the game at two. Caitlin Bradac (Garden Grove, CA/Garden Grove) reached first base with just one out, putting the winning run on first. Maire Shaughnessy (Culpeper, Va./Highland) pinch ran for Bradac. A single by Dorado to the center-field wall enabled Shaughnessy to round second and third and slide home for the winning run.
The RBI single gave the Knights the 3-2 win. Reiner allowed just one earned run on three hits in seven innings on the mound. She walked four and struck out five. Zamudio, Needle and Dorado recorded the Knights' three RBIs.
In game two, the Blue Devils again took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a solo home run to right field.
An infield single and a stolen base put a runner in scoring position for CCSU in the top of the third. Two consecutive sacrifice flies drove home a run to give CCSU a 2-0 lead.
Again, the Knights held Central Connecticut scoreless through the sixth inning. With runners on the corners in the bottom of the sixth, Needle singled past the shortstop to drive in the Knights' first run of the game. Dorado grounded out on a bunt attempt but left Needle open to score a run as the Blue Devils threw Dorado out at first. At the end of the sixth, the game was tied at two.
Elizabeth Woidt singled to right field to begin the seventh. She advanced to second and to third on two wild pitches by CCSU. A right-field single by Zamudio drove home Woidt to give the Knights' their second 3-2 walk-off win of the day.
Zamudio, Needle and Dorado each recorded an RBI in game two. Reiner allowed two earned runs on six hits. She struck out two and walked one batter in seven innings to improve to 10-0 on the season.
“Megan pitched exceptionally well,” said Head Coach Dale Martin. “She stayed ahead in the count and even after she let up some early runs, she didn't give up extra bases later in the game. She was able to keep Central down until we could get our runs together.”
“We were resilient coming back in both wins,” Martin added.” “That's big for us as a young team; it was great to see our freshman instrument the comeback in both games.”
The Knights will travel to Western Pennsylvania to take on Saint Francis PA and Robert Morris on March 31 and April 1.
