HACKENSACK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson University softball team will open the 2013 campaign at the Norfolk State Spartan Clash in Norfolk, Va. with two games each day on Sunday, Feb. 24 and Monday, Feb. 25. The games were originally slated for Saturday and Sunday, but were moved due to impending weather.
The Spartan Clash will match the Knights against Delaware State and Norfolk State, while Northeast Conference rival Monmouth will also face the duo of MEAC teams. FDU will face DSU on Sunday at noon and Monday at 11 a.m. and will take on the host at 6 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Monday.
The Knights ended the 2012 campaign with an overall record of 30-20 and ranked high on the Northeast Conference leaderboard in several categories, including first in batting average, hits, RBI and doubles, while being one of five NEC teams to finish above .500 overall. The Knights recorded the fourth-highest number of overall wins in the conference and set an FDU program record for wins in a single season.
This year, the Knights are under new direction with Head Coach Candi Letts leading the charge. Sophomore pitcher Megan Reiner (Los Angeles, Calif./John Marshall) set five program records as a freshman last season, including wins (18), strikeouts (170) and batting average against (.171). She led FDU in all major pitching categories, ranked fourth in the NEC with a 2.00 ERA and pitched eight complete conference games with one shutout.
Reiner's pitching success will complement the strong senior leadership of Mikayla Fernandez (Mission Viejo, Calif./Mission Viejo), Maire Shaughnessy (Culpeper, Va./Highland) and Liz Woidt (Binghamton, N.Y./Binghamton) and sophomore Cindy Zamudio (Wilmington, Calif./Redondo Union), who maintained a batting average of .366, the highest of returning players, and struck out just four times in 164 at bats last season.
Norfolk State enters the Spartan Clash with a 1-1 record on the season after splitting a doubleheader against North Carolina Central. The Spartans finished 2012 with a 24-25 record, which included a 12-1 loss to FDU in the opening weekend of the season.
Backed by preseason Player of the Year Haley Ward, the Spartans were selected to finish second in the North Division of the MEAC this season. Ward led the team last season with a .409 batting average and earned a First Team All-MEAC nod for her performance.
NSU also returns two starting pitchers from last season. Junior Jamie Schulle began the 2013 season with a 1-1 record after compiling a record of 13-10 last year, with a 3.20 ERA. Sophomore Liz Riley appeared in 33 games for NSU with a record of 11-15 and a 2.93 ERA.
The Hornets of Delaware State were picked as the favorite to win the North Division of the MEAC this year after going 25-18 during the 2012 season.
Stephanie Martello will lead the Hornets offense as the top producing returner. The junior hit .339 last season with 32 RBIs. Junior Rachel Meagley is the top returning pitcher for DSU. Meagley held a 6-1 record through 13 appearances last year with an ERA of 2.07.
All games at the Spartan Clash can be watched live at the Norfolk State athletics website. Live Stats are also available for all games.
