HAMDEN, Conn. – The Fairleigh Dickinson University softball team defeated Quinnipiac University 7-1 in the first game of a double header on Saturday, April 20 but fell 4-0 in extra innings in game two to end the day with a split.  The Knights move to 18-17 on the season with an even 7-7 mark in Northeast Conference action, while the Bobcats are now 15-27 with an 8-4 conference record.

Freshman Madelaine Wilen (Bakerfield, Calif./Ridgeview High School) started the series for the Knights with a leadoff double down the left field line.  Julia Northcutt (Irvine, Calif./Northwood High School) advanced Wilen to third on a sacrifice bunt and reached first on a throwing error.  The error allowed Wilen to score to put FDU up 1-0 early in the contest.  With Northcutt on base, senior Mikayla Fernandez (Mission Viejo, Calif./Mission Viejo) hit her sixth home run of the season over the center field fence to give the Knights a 3-0 lead with no outs in the first inning.

A walk by Courtney Slye (Mission Viejo, Calif./Capistrano Valley High School) followed by singles from Angelique Nieves (Union City, N.J./High Tech High School) Cindy Zamudio (Wilmington, Calif./Redondo Union) loaded the bases for Hayley Floyd (Selah, Wash./Selah High School).  Floyd reached on a fielder's choice that tagged Slye out at home, but a throwing error allowed Floyd to advance to second and Nieves to score.  A Bobcat error allowed senior Maire Shaughnessy (Culpeper, Va./Highland) to drive in a fifth run before the inning ended.  After half an inning, the Knights led 5-0.

The Bobcats gained leverage on the Knights in the bottom of the third when they executed a double steal with runners on first and third.  The steal put Quinnipiac on the board and brought the score to 5-1.

The Knights responded quickly in the top of the fourth.  With Northcutt on first, Fernandez singled to put runners on first and third.  A single from Slye allowed Northcutt to score to increase the Knights' advance to five runs.

Slye sealed the win for FDU with a solo home run over the left field wall in the top of the seventh.  Her sixth homer of the season gave the Knights a 7-1 win.

Freshman Loren Stavrou (Long Beach, Calif./Wilson Classical High School) earned the win with a complete game.  Stavrou allowed no earned runs on five hits with five strikeouts and two walks.  The rookie moved to 6-3 on the season and holds an ERA of 1.48.

Game two began as a battle between pitchers.  Through five innings, a third inning double by Emma Deluca (Vernon, N.J./Vernon Township High School) was the only recorded hit from either team.  Through seven innings, each team had recorded just two hits.

With the game still scoreless, the Bobcats threatened in the bottom of the seventh.  A series including a single, a passed ball, an intentional walk and a sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third with one out.  The Knights intentionally walked the next batter to load the bases and create a force play at every base.  With a 3-2 count, Quinnipiac produced a shallow pop up to center field for the second out.  Northcutt quickly threw to Zamudio at second to tag the runner and end the inning, and the threat, with a double play.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Bobcats threatened again.  A triple to the center field wall started the inning before two runners were intentionally walked to load the bases for a force play again.  Quinnipiac's Jordan Paolucci took a called strike and fouled two pitches off before handing Quinnipiac the win with a walk-off grand slam.  Paolucci's 11^th home run of the season went over the fence in right center to give the Bobcats a 4-0 win.

Samantha Lemm (Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional High School) took the loss in game two after allowing just two hits through six innings.  Lemm allowed five hits on the day, struck out six batters and allowed four earned runs to score in the final inning of the day.

Slye led the Knights on the day with three hits, three walks and two RBI.  Slye recorded her sixth home run of the season.  Fernandez added two RBI for FDU and went 3-for-7 on the day.

The Knights return to Connecticut on Sunday, April 21 to take on the Blue Devils of Central Connecticut State.  First pitch in New Britain is slated for noon.