The Fairleigh Dickinson University softball team defeated Manhattan, 4-3 and 5-2 in a double header, Wednesday, April 25 in Hackensack, NJ. With the wins the Knights move to 27-18 and hold a new program record for wins in a season. With the losses, the Jaspers drop to 6-31 on the season.
After three scoreless innings, the Knights took the lead in the bottom of the fourth. With two outs, Jordan Needle (Camarillo, CA/La Reina College Prep) singled down the right-field line and advanced to second when Maria Roney (Anacortes, WA/Anacortes) was hit by a pitch. An error by the Manhattan third baseman allowed Bryana Dorado (Oxnard, Calif./Oxnard) to reach first and the Knights' first run to score. After four innings, the Knights held the lead, 1-0.
Marikka Benson (Lacey, WA/Timberline) singled up the middle to lead off the bottom of the fifth. Benson advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lauren Hamilton (Woodinville, WA/Woodinville) and moved to third on a single from Cindy Zamudio (Wilmington, Calif./Redondo Union).
With two outs, Caitlin Bradac (Garden Grove, CA/Garden Grove) was intentionally walked to put Needle at the plate with the bases loaded. Needle hit a single to left field to score two runs and give FDU a 3-0 advantage.
Manhattan responded in the top of the sixth with a two-run homerun followed by a double to the left-field wall. A dropped fly ball in center field allowed the runner to score and tie the game at three.
Bradac led off the bottom of the seventh with a deep double to left field. Maire Shaughnessy (Culpeper, Va./Highland) ran for Bradac as Needle was intentionally walked to put two runners on for Roney. Roney walked to load the bases with no outs, giving Dorado a chance to win the game.
Dorado hit a walk-off single up the middle to drive home Shaughnessy and give the Knights the win, 4-3.
The rookie duo of Needle and Dorado each produced two RBIs, while classmate Megan Reiner (Los Angeles, Calif./John Marshall) earned the win on the mound for FDU. Reiner moves to 15-7 on the year after allowing two earned runs on five hits. She struck out seven and walked two.
Manhattan struck first in game two, scoring two runs on an infield error and a double to left-center field. The Knights responded quickly with a single from Zamudio in the bottom of the first. Zamudio stole second and advanced to third on a single by Needle after Kirsten Shreve (Kent, WA/Kentwood) walked. An error by the second baseman allowed Roney to reach first and Zamudio to score. A single from Dorado scored Shreve to tie the game at two.
In the bottom of the second, Elizabeth Woidt doubled to left field and advanced to third on two infield errors by Manhattan. Zamudio reached base on one of those errors and Shreve reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases. A single from Bradac scored Woidt and Zamudio to give FDU a 4-2 lead.
The Knights added a fifth run on an RBI double by Woidt in the bottom of the fifth inning to secure the win.
Shaughnessy pitched a complete game for FDU, allowing two runs on four hits. She struck out two and walked one to improve to 8-7 on the season.
Bradac led the Knights' offense with two RBI, while Dorado added one and went 2-for-3 from the plate.
The Knights will host Siena on Thursday, April 26 to conclude non-conference competition. First-pitch in Hackensack is slated for 3:00 pm.
