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HACKENSACK, N.J. -- The Fairleigh Dickinson softball team (7-12, 0-0 NEC) will begin Northeast Conference play Wednesday afternoon at the FDU Softball Field when the Knights host Bryant for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. in its 2014 home opener. The Bulldogs were picked to finish fourth in the NEC preseason polls, one spot ahead of the Knights for the final NEC Tournament spot.
 
Last Time Out
FDU was scheduled to open conference play this past weekend against Bryant and Central Connecticut, but the weather did not cooperate, raining out both doubleheaders in Hackensack. The Knights will now face the Blue Devils on Saturday, April 12 at 1 p.m. FDU last played on March 27, falling in both games of a doubleheader at Manhattan, where they lost by scores of 2-1 and 5-0. Junior Megan Reiner (Los Angeles, Calif./John Marshall) (5-3) turned in yet another impressive performance in game one, throwing her fifth complete game in seven chances. She struck out 11 Jaspers and allowed only three hits, but two came from the long ball, which gave the edge to Manhattan. Reiner now has a 2.25 ERA to go along with 57 strikeouts over 46.2 innings pitched. The Knights' offense struggled in their twin bill against the Jaspers, with the team batting average falling to .203 on the season. Junior Angelique Nieves (Union City, N.J./High Tech High School) has been a bright spot for FDU, batting .358 with six doubles and a .424 on-base percentage to compliment a .509 slugging percentage.
 
Bryant
2014 Season: 10-12
Where: Hackensack, N.J. (FDU Softball Field)
When: Wednesday, April 2 - 1/3 p.m.
Series History: Bryant leads 7-3
Last Meeting: April 14, 2013 - Bryant 8 FDU 1; FDU 3 Bryant 1 (DH)
What You Need To Know: Sophomore Elle Madsen is the Bulldog the Knights will have to look out for Wednesday afternoon. Madsen is on a 10-game hitting streak with a season average of .333. She leads Bryant in most offensive categories, including hits (21), home runs (7) RBI (17) and slugging percentage (.683). The Colorado native also leads the Bulldogs in the circle (7-6), collecting 11 complete games in 12 chances, throwing to a 3.50 earned run average and tossing 82 innings. The rest of the Bryant offensive is lead Aubrey Mable (.333, 20 H, 3 HR), Kendall Corder (.350, 21 H) and Madeline Velasquez (19 H, 4 HR, 15 RBI). The Bulldogs have already smashed 18 home runs this season while scoring 92 runs (4.2 runs per game).
 
Up Next
FDU will head out to Western Pennsylvania this weekend to take on Robert Morris on Saint Francis University in a pair of doubleheaders. The Knights and the Colonials are slated to meet in Moon Township, Pa. on Saturday, April 5 at 1 p.m., before the Knights and the Red Flash engage on Sunday, April 6 at 12 p.m.