The Fairleigh Dickinson University softball team shut down the Peahens of Saint Peter's College, 10-0 and 7-3, Thursday, April 12 in Hackensack, NJ.  With the wins, the Knights improve to 23-12 on the season.

Senior Kirsten Shreve (Kent, WA/Kentwood) began the game with a lead-off homerun to left field, giving FDU a 1-0 lead after one inning.

The Knights set fire to their offense in the bottom of the second.  A single from Bryana Dorado (Oxnard, Calif./Oxnard) led off the inning before Maire Shaughnessy (Culpeper, Va./Highland) reached on an error, Marikka Benson (Lacey, WA/Timberline) walked and Lauren Hamilton (Woodinville, WA/Woodinville) reached on a fielder's choice.  Shaughnessy scored on a wild pitch to give FDU a 2-0 lead.

A single from Shreve drove home Benson before Paige Castro (Elk Grove, CA/Franklin) reached on an infield error to score Hamilton.  With two runners on, senior Caitlin Bradac (Garden Grove, CA/Garden Grove) hit a three-run homerun to right-center field to give the Knights a 7-0 lead. 

Singles by Jordan Needle (Camarillo, CA/La Reina College Prep) and Maria Roney (Anacortes, WA/Anacortes) put two runners on for Shaughnessy.  A second three-run homerun, this time by Shaughnessy, gave the Knights a 10-run lead after two innings.

The Knights held the Peahens scoreless with just one hit through the fifth inning.

Shaughnessy earned the win for FDU with no runs on just one hit.  She struck out three and walked two in four complete innings.

Shreve and Bradac led the Knights' offense in game one.  Shreve went 3-for-3 from the plate with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Bradac went 1-for-2 with three RBIs, a run scores and a walk. 

The Peahens' offense came alive in the beginning of the second game.  Two singles and an FDU error enabled SPC to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning.

The Knights responded in the bottom of the first.  Three walks and a single from Dorado gave FDU a 2-1 advantage.

Two consecutive doubles and a passed ball enabled SPC to score two runs in the top of the second but it would be the last time the Peahens crossed the plate.

In the bottom of the fourth, Castro drove in two runs on a single to right field to reclaim the lead for FDU.  A three-run homerun by Needle increased the Knights' run-count to seven and secured the advantage through the rest of the game.

The Knights held the Peahens through the seventh inning to earn the win, 7-3.

Megan Reiner (Los Angeles, Calif./John Marshall) earned the win in game two to improve to 13-3 on the season.  The freshman allowed no runs on just one hit in four innings.  She struck out five and walked one.

Dorado compiled three hits in four at bats for FDU and added two RBIs.  Needle led the team with three RBIs, while Castro added two.    

The Knights will host Northeast Conference opponents, Quinnipiac and Monmouth this weekend in Hackensack, NJ.