Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- The Fairleigh Dickinson softball team bounced back at the Mustang Classic, hosted by Cal Poly, on Saturday with a pair of victories at Bob Janssen Field. Early in the day, the Knights got revenge against Santa Clara with a 9-1 five-inning-mercy-rule victory, before hanging on to defeat Sacramento State, 5-3, nearly eight hours later. With the victories, FDU improves to 5-4 on the season, while the Broncos and the Hornets fall to 3-13 and 8-9 overall.

In the first contest, freshmen Madison Lerma (Escondido, Calif./Escondido) (1-0) earned her first collegiate victory against Santa Clara, throwing 5.0 innings while giving up only earned one run on three hits to go along with two walks and two strikeouts in the complete-game effort.

"This was a great team win," Head Coach Candi Letts said. "Maddie Lerma pitched a great game."

Ciara Gonzalez was charged with the loss after lasting only 2.1 innings and allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits.

The game remained scoreless until the third inning when the Knights put up a crooked number with six runs to go in front 6-0. Sophomore Madeline Wilen singled up the middle to score freshman Cheryl Lopez (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) for the first run. After an RBI groundout by sophomore Julia Northcutt (Irvine, Calif./Northwood High School) to plate freshman Alex Portesi (Chino, Calif./Don Antonio Lugo), FDU's hottest hitter, Angelique Nieves (Union City, N.J./High Tech High School), ripped a double to left center to score Wilen. Nieves' double knocked Gonzalez out of the game but the scoring didn't stop for the Knights.

The Broncos brought in Jessica Turner, who earned the win against the Knights the previous day, and faced junior Cindy Zamudio (Wilmington, Calif./Redondo Union), who was the difference maker for FDU in the contest. After Zamudio reached on an error, she stole second, allowing Nieves to steal home. Lerma then helped herself out by doubling to left center to score Zamudio. Redshirt senior Liz Woidt (Binghamton, N.Y./Binghamton) capped the scoring with an RBI single to right field to plate Lerma.

"Emma Deluca (Vernon, N.J./Vernon Township High School) started the rally in the third, and we capitalized on great base running and big hits from Maddy Wilen and Angie Nieves," Letts said.

Zamudio tamed Santa Clara with her base running but gave the crushing blow to the Broncos in the top of the fourth with her bases clearing double to left field, scoring Portesi, Nieves and junior Bryana Dorado (Oxnard, Calif./Oxnard), which extended the advantage to 9-0.

 Zamudio finished the day 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored to lead the Knights' nine-hit attack. Wilen and Nieves both scored a pair of runs for FDU.

"The team put together timely hits with great pitching to seal the run rule win," Letts said.

Santa Clara scored its lone run of the game on a Chiara Biagini home run to left field to lead off the bottom of the fifth.

In the nightcap, Megan Reiner (Los Angeles, Calif./John Marshall) (3-1) went the distance, as she scattered nine hits while allowing three earned runs, with two coming on a two-out-two run homer in the top of the seventh. She struck out seven in the complete-game performance.

"Megan pitched an outstanding game, and battery mate Maddy Wilen kept Sacramento State's potent offense in check," Letts said. "The defense came up big when the Hornets challenged, and our offense got help from many players at different times. This was our best win of the season to date."

Kaitlyn Yerby was tagged with the loss for Sacramento State, throwing 5.0 innings and allowing five runs, four earned, on nine hits.

The Hornets jumped right on Reiner in the top of the first with a one-out RBI single from Kortney Solis to take a 1-0 lead. Reiner pitched herself into a bases-loaded jam but was able to escape with a strikeout and a groundout.

FDU answered right back in the bottom of the frame with a run of its own, as Dorado drove home Nieves with a two-out RBI single to knot the game at 1-1.

After the Knights escaped a Sacramento State scoring threat in the top of the fourth, FDU took the lead for good in the bottom half of the inning on Lerma's RBI single, which scored Zamudio, who started the rally with a two-out triple.

Reiner found herself in more trouble in the top of the fifth after the Hornets put runners on second and third with two outs, but the Knights' ace was able to register a strikeout to escape any damage.

FDU's offense provided insurance for Reiner in the bottom of the sixth with three runs and timely hitting to take a 5-1 lead. With nobody out, Lerma doubled home Dorado, and with two outs, Wilen delivered what proved to be the game-winning hit with a two-run single to right-center field that scored Zamudio and Lerma.

Wilen paced the Knights' 10-hit performance by going 3-for-4 with two RBI, while Zamudio and Lerma each recorded two safeties, with Zamudio scoring twice and collecting two RBI. Lerma also scored twice for FDU.

The Knights will conclude the Mustang Classic on Sunday with a 12 p.m. contest against Stony Brook.