DeLAND, Fla. – The Fairleigh Dickinson University softball team fell in both games on the first day of the Stetson Classic at Wilson Field on Friday. The Knights fell to Valparaiso, 1-0, to start the day, before falling to the host, 3-0, dropping their record to 2-3 on the season.

With a runner on third in the top of the first and two outs, Valpo saw a pop fly find a small patch of grass between the infield and outfield.  The hit allowed the runner to score from third to give the Crusaders a 1-0 lead.

The Crusaders challenged again in the top of the third with a double to the right-field fence, but FDU forced three quick outs to stifle the offensive opportunity.

The Knights' best chance came in the bottom of the fourth inning when Angelique Nieves (Union City, N.J./High Tech High School) singled to center field to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a single to right field by senior Mikayla Fernandez (Mission Viejo, Calif./Mission Viejo).  The Crusaders shut down the Knights' attack with a strikeout and a double play to end the inning.

Overall, the Knights produced five hits and struck out four times. Sophomore Megan Reiner (Los Angeles, Calif./John Marshall) took the loss and moved to 1-1 on the year after giving up four hits and one run in seven innings of work. Reiner struck out a career-high six batters on the day and allowed just four hits.

After two scoreless innings against Stetson, the Knights saw the Hatters' bats come alive. A series that included two singles, a sacrifice bunt and a walk loaded the bases with one out. Shortstop Demi Meza doubled to left field to drive in two runners, giving Stetson a 2-0 lead. The Hatters increased their lead to 3-0 when a sacrifice fly drove in a third run before the inning was over.

The Knights battled to respond in the top of the fourth when Madelaine Wilen (Bakerfield, Calif./Ridgeview High School) singled and Nieves reached on a fielder's choice before freshman Courtney Slye (Mission Viejo, Calif./Capistrano Valley High School) singled up the middle. A groundout moved Nieves and Slye to second and third to give the Knights runners in scoring position with two outs but were unable to put runs on the board and held the 3-0 deficit through the end of the game.

Senior Maire Shaughnessy (Culpeper, Va./Highland) was charged with her first loss of the year, allowing three earned runs on five hits in four innings in the circle, while striking out two and walking three. Freshman Loren Stavrou (Long Beach, Calif./Wilson Classical High School) pitched three innings of relief and allowed no earned runs on one hit while striking out two and walking three. Collectively, the team allowed six hits, six walks and four strikeouts.

Offensively, the Knights produced four hits, walked once and struck out on six occasions. 

The Knights will face Colgate at Wilson Field on Saturday, March 9 at 1:30 p.m. and will take on Stetson again at 6:30 p.m.