HACKENSACK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson University softball team swept the Red Flash of Saint Francis University with a pair of 2-1 victories on Saturday, April 27 at FDU Softball Field. The Knights came from behind in game one to take the win in eight innings and took an early lead in game two to earn the sweep on senior day.

Prior to the series, seniors Mikayla Fernandez (Mission Viejo, Calif./Mission Viejo), Maire Shaughnessy (Culpeper, Va./Highland) and Liz Woidt (Binghamton, N.Y./Binghamton) were honored for their time in burgundy and blue. 

The Red Flash got on the scoreboard early in game one after putting runners on first and third and executing a double steal to take a 1-0 lead.

Starting pitcher Loren Stavrou (Long Beach, Calif./Wilson Classical High School) allowed just two hits through seven innings on the mound and set the Knights up for the bottom of the seventh. With one out in the Knights' last at bat, freshman Courtney Slye (Mission Viejo, Calif./Capistrano Valley High School) knocked the second pitch over the center field wall to tie the game at one.

Stavrou held the Red Flash to no hits in the top of the eighth before Shaughnessy doubled to center field to begin the bottom of the eighth. She advanced to third when pinch hitter Bryana Dorado (Oxnard, Calif./Oxnard) reached first on a Saint Francis error. With two runners on and no outs, Julia Northcutt (Irvine, Calif./Northwood High School) roped a hit up the middle that scored Shaughnessy from third and gave the Knights the win.

Stavrou moved to 7-4 on the year with the complete game. She struck out seven and walked just one, while allowing only two hits through eight innings.

Collectively, the Knights produced seven hits in game one.

With a full-count, lead-off batter Madelaine Wilen (Bakerfield, Calif./Ridgeview High School) hit a home run down the left field line to begin game two for a 1-0 FDU lead.

The Knights added a second run in the second with a double down the left-field line by Angelique Nieves (Union City, N.J./High Tech High School) and a double to right center from Cindy Zamudio (Wilmington, Calif./Redondo Union). Zamudio's hit scored Nieves to put the Knights ahead 2-0 through two innings.

Both teams were held scoreless in the third and fourth innings. 

The Red Flash stopped a shut out in the top of the fifth. Two consecutive hits put runners on second and third for SFU. After a pitching change, Saint Francis reached base on a fielder's choice as the Knights attempted to throw the runner out at the plate. The throw was off and allowed one unearned run to score to end the Knights' shutout.

The Knights held the Red Flash through the remainder of the game to hold on to a 2-1 lead and earn the sweep of Saint Francis.

Samantha Lemm (Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional High School) moved to 6-5 on the year with the win, while Megan Reiner (Los Angeles, Calif./John Marshall) picked up her first save of the season in her first appearance after an injury. Lemm allowed no earned runs on three hits in 4.1 innings of work. Reiner allowed two hits in 2.2 innings.  Both pitchers struck out two batters.

The Knights conclude Northeast Conference action on Sunday, April 28 as they take on Wagner in Staten Island.  First pitch is slated for noon.