WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson University softball team began Northeast Conference action with a split at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, N.J. on Saturday, March 23. The Knights fell to MU, 1-0, in game one before responding with a 7-4 win in game two. FDU moves to 9-9 on the season and begins conference play with a 1-1 mark.

The Hawks started the game with a lead-off triple to right field. After a groundout, the third batter singled up the middle to drive in the runner and put Monmouth ahead, 1-0, with just one out in the bottom of the first, but the Hawks grounded into a double play to end the threat.

Monmouth threatened again in the bottom of the third with three runners on and two outs. A lineout to Angelique Nieves (Union City, N.J./High Tech High School) at third base stopped the Hawks' attack and helped the Knights' hold the MU lead to one run.

The Knights were held hitless through the fifth inning but began the sixth with a single to second base by freshman Madelaine Wilen (Bakerfield, Calif./Ridgeview High School), who advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Hayley Floyd (Selah, Wash./Selah High School) and moved to third on a groundout by Julia Northcutt (Irvine, Calif./Northwood High School). However, a second consecutive groundout prevented the Knights from driving Wilen home. 

FDU mounted a last-chance attack in the top of the seventh. With one out, freshman Courtney Slye (Mission Viejo, Calif./Capistrano Valley High School) singled to right field and senior Mikayla Fernadez singled to center field to move Slye to second and put two runners on, but the Knights ended the game with a strikeout to enable Monmouth to take a 1-0 win.

Sophomore pitcher Megan Reiner (Los Angeles, Calif./John Marshall) was charged with the loss and is now 1-6 on the year after pitching a complete game with five hits allowed. The righty struck out five, walked two and allowed one earned run.

Offensively, the Knights were limited to just three hits in the game.

After a scoreless first inning in game two, Slye led of the second with a home run to left-center field to put the Knights on the scoreboard.  Fernandez followed with a single and advanced to second on an error in right field. Nieves then singled to left field and moved to second on an error in left field, which allowed Fernandez to move to third.

A double down the left field line by Wilen scored Fernandez to give FDU a 2-0 lead with no outs. After a groundout and a fielder's choice, Northcutt grounded out for the second out but drove in a third run.

The Knights added a fourth run in the top of the third when another Wilen double drove in Slye after she reached on a single to left field. 

The Hawks produced a counterattack in the bottom of the third on a series of hits and defensive errors. With one out, Monmouth reached on an error and put runners on first and second with a successful bunt. After a strikeout, the Hawks produced a two-run single to get on the scoreboard and cut the Knights' advantage to 4-2. An infield error and another single drove in two more runs to tie the game at four after three innings.

Both teams were held scoreless in the fourth inning. With two outs in the fifth, Fernandez hit a solo home run over the left-field fence to put FDU ahead 5-4 with two innings to play.

The Knights added to their total in the sixth when Wilen reached first on an error and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Cindy Zamudio (Wilmington, Calif./Redondo Union). Northcutt successfully bunted to move Wilen to third and put runners on the corners. Northcutt's fourth stolen base attempt of the season was successful and put two runners in scoring position for Floyd, who drove in two runs on a single to right field to give the Knights the final score of 7-4.

Offensively, Fernandez led the squad with three hits in four at bats, including the solo home run. Syle, Wilen and Nieves all added two hits.

Starting pitcher Loren Stavrou (Long Beach, Calif./Wilson Classical High School) allowed six hits in three innings of work. Although four runs scored, none were credited against the rookie.  Senior Maire Shaughnessy (Culpeper, Va./Highland) earned the win with three hits and no runs in four innings, moving to 4-1 on the season.

The Knights travel south to Emmitsburg, Md. to continue Northeast Conference action on Sunday, March 24 when they face Mount St. Mary's in a doubleheader slated for noon.