Live Stats
HACKENSACK, N.J. -- For the second straight weekend, the Fairleigh Dickinson softball team (1-2) will journey down south to Virginia, as the Knights are slated to compete at the Hampton Invitational in Hampton, Va. on Saturday and Sunday. FDU will play Columbia on Saturday at 3 p.m., before playing Saint Joseph's and Hartford at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Sunday. The tournament was originally scheduled for three days but has been trimmed down to two because of the unseasonably cold temperatures.
Last Time Out
The Knights finished 1-2 at last weekend's Spartan Clash, hosted by Norfolk State, in Norfolk, Va. FDU started the season with a victory after Northeast Conference Pitcher of the Week
Megan Reiner (Los Angeles, Calif./John Marshall) tossed a two-hit-complete-game shutout while striking out 11 in the Knights' 4-0 victory over La Salle. The junior then kept FDU in its game with Delaware State with a scoreless 2.1 innings for work out of the bullpen. Offensively, juniors
Bryana Dorado (Oxnard, Calif./Oxnard) (.429 batting average) and
Angelique Nieves (Union City, N.J./High Tech High School) (five RBI) have paced the Knights through three contests.
Columbia
2014 Season: 0-5 (0-1 Ivy League)
When: Saturday, March 1 - 3 p.m.
Where: Hampton, Va. (Lady Pirates Softball Field)
Lasting Meeting: April 2, 2013 - Columbia 5 FDU 4; FDU 10 Columbia 7 (DH)
Series History: FDU leads 9-7
What You Need To Know: The Lions are in search of their first win of 2014 after dropping all five games in their season-opening tournament at the Houston Hilton Plaza Invitational. Although coming up short, Columbia has found the long ball, already totaling five home runs this season. The Lions been led by first-year player Alyssa Rodia, who went 4-for-12 with a home run, double, two RBI and two runs scored.
Saint Joseph's
2014 Season: 2-2
When: Sunday, March 2 - 9 a.m.
Where: Hampton, Va. (Lady Pirates Softball Field)
Lasting Meeting: April 23, 2008 - Saint Joseph's 8 FDU 2; Saint Joseph's 5 FDU 4 (DH)
Series History: Saint Joseph's leads 2-0
What You Need To Know: The 2013 Atlantic 10 Conference regular season champions have been led by sophomore pitcher Anna Lauterbach thus far. She has tossed 8.2 innings and has not allowed an earned run while fanning seven. Offensively, junior utility player Nicole Palase is 6-for-11 (.545) at the plate to start the season.
Hartford
2013 Season: 21-34 (10-8 American East)
When: Sunday, March 2 - 11 a.m.
Where: Hampton, Va. (Lady Pirates Softball Field)
Last Meeting: March 18, 2011 - FDU 3 Hartford 0
Series History: Hartford leads 3-1
What You Need To Know: The Hampton Invitational will be the season opener for the Hawks, who are coming off one of the most successful seasons in recent program history. Hartford, who finished 2013 with over 20 wins for the first time since 2008, returns this season with two all-conference second team players in Zuzana Kudernatschova and Chelsey Mooney. Kudernatschova, a native of the Czech Republic, finished the 2013 season with an impressive 2.50 earned run average, compiled 147 strikeouts while being responsible for two-thirds of the Hawks' total wins with 14.
Up Next
The Knights will continue to rack up the travel points as they head to San Luis Obispo, California for the Mustang Classic, hosted by Cal Poly University, from March 7-9. FDU will play Cal Poly, Santa Clara, Sacramento State and Stony Brook.
