Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

NORFOLK, Va. -- The Fairleigh Dickinson softball dropped both of its remaining games at the Spartan Clash on Sunday at the Norfolk State Softball Field to Delaware State and Yale. With the losses, FDU falls to 1-2 on the season, while the Hornets improve to 4-2 and the Bulldogs move to 1-2 overall.
 
"We were challenged more today," Head Coach Candi Letts said. "We learned in both games that we have to stay in the process. There are many good things to come as we continue to work on getting better each day by one percent. It was great to play, and we got a great deal from it."
 
Delaware State 4 FDU 2
 
FDU took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first when sophomore Madelaine Wilen (Bakerfield, Calif./Ridgeview High School) scored with one out after the Delaware State catcher committed a throwing error trying to throw out junior Bryana Dorado (Oxnard, Calif./Oxnard) stealing second base. But Dorado would be stranded at second when the frame ended.
 
The Knights mounted potential rallies in the second and third innings with runners in scoring position, including a man on third and less than two outs in the second, but failed to score.
 
The Hornets scored all of their runs in the bottom of the fourth. Danielle Velez and Tara Tursellino started the scoring with a RBI doubles to the right center gap and down the right-field line. Chloe Oro and Sandy Hawthrone pitched in with RBI singles to cap the scoring.
 
Dorado scored FDU's second run in the top of the sixth after coming around on a throwing error by the first baseman with two outs.
 
Sophomore starter Loren Stavrou (Long Beach, Calif./Wilson Classical High School) (0-1) was charged with the loss after giving up four earned runs on eight hits in only 3.2 innings of work. Junior Megan Reiner (Los Angeles, Calif./John Marshall) came in relief and pitched impressively for the second straight day, as she gave the Knights a chance by shutting down Delaware State in her 2.1 innings pitched in the circle.
 
FDU only managed three hits in the game. Vanessa Ciocatto earned the win for the Hornets after throwing 5.1 innings, giving up two unearned runs to go along with five strikeouts. Tara Tursellino recorded the save after capping off 1.2 innings of relief with no hits allowed.
 
Yale 4 FDU 1
 
Neither team scored over the first four innings, but Yale would plate two unearned runs in the top of the fifth to take a 2-0 lead.
 
The Knights had an opportunity to cut the lead in half in the bottom of the fifth, but freshman Alex Portesi (Chino, Calif./Don Antonio Lugo) was thrown at the plate to end the inning on redshirt senior Liz Woidt (Binghamton, N.Y./Binghamton)'s single to center field.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, FDU loaded the bases with one out but only score one run, as junior Angelique Nieves (Union City, N.J./High Tech High School) drew a four-pitch walk to push home freshman Madison Lerma (Escondido, Calif./Escondido) with two outs. However, the Knights would leave the sacks packed.
 
The Bulldogs added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh to extend their lead to 4-1, before FDU went down in order in the bottom half to end the game.
 
Freshmen starting pitcher Cheryl Lopez (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) made her first collegiate start, keeping the Knights in the game throughout the contest. Lopez (0-1) was tagged with the loss after tossing 4.2 innings and allowing two unearned runs on five hits, while striking out three.
 
Kristen Leung of Yale earned the victory after allowing only one earned run on four hits in 5.1 innings of work while striking out four. Lindsay Efflandt pitched the final 1.2 innings of hitless work to record the save.
 
FDU will head back down to Virginia next weekend to participate in the Hampton Invitational in Hampton, Va. The Knights are slated to begin the tournament with a 9 a.m. contest against Columbia on Friday, Feb. 28 at 9 a.m. before facing Saint Joseph's at 1 p.m. FDU will then face Hampton and Hartford on Saturday, March 1.