Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Behind two complete-game efforts from junior Megan Reiner (Los Angeles, Calif./John Marshall), the Fairleigh Dickinson softball team increased its winning streak to four games after sweeping Sacred Heart in a Northeast Conference doubleheader on Saturday at Pioneer Park. The Knights rallied in the opener for a 2-1 eight-inning victory, before scoring all six of their runs over the final three innings in the nightcap for a 6-1 triumph. With the victory, FDU improves to 14-16 (4-4 NEC) on the season, while the Pioneers fall to 12-21 (1-11 NEC) overall.
 
With one out in the top of the eighth of game one, reining NEC Rookie of the Week Alex Portesi (Chino, Calif./Don Antonio Lugo) delivered a clutch RBI triple to center field, scoring sophomore Julia Northcutt (Irvine, Calif./Northwood High School), who started the inning with a bunt single, for a 2-1 lead.
 
Reiner (9-6) would work around a hit batsman with one out in the bottom half of the eighth to earn her 11th complete game in 14 starts. She scattered six hits, allowed one earned run, walked one and tied a season high in strikeouts with 11.
 
Jamie Carlson also went the distance for Sacred Heart in the losing effort. She allowed two runs, one earned, on seven hits, walked one and struck out three.
 
The Knights had chances to take an early lead over the first two innings but could not convert. FDU had runners on second and third with one out in the top of the first, before freshman Madison Lerma (Escondido, Calif./Escondido) was left stranded at third in the top of the second after she led off with a double and moved to third on a passed ball with no outs.
 
The Pioneers scored their lone run of the contest in the bottom of the second on a RBI single by Andrea Sidor to take an early 1-0 lead. From there, Reiner only allowed three more base runners to reach.
 
Carlson was in a groove as well for Sacred Heart, as she retired 12 straight batters until sophomore Madelaine Wilen (Bakerfield, Calif./Ridgeview High School) reached on an error to begin the top of the sixth before advancing to second on Portesi's sacrifice bunt. Junior Cindy Zamudio (Wilmington, Calif./Redondo Union) followed with the game-tying RBI single to left field to plate Wilen. Zamudio would advance to second on a wild pitch and steal third, but she was left stranded.
 
The Pioneers could not capitalize with a two-out double in the bottom half of the sixth, and FDU was unable to take advantage of Lerma and redshirt senior Liz Woidt (Binghamton, N.Y./Binghamton) both singling to start the top of the seventh.
 
In game two, the Knights took advantage of four Sacred Heart errors and pounded out nine hits, as they scored four in the fifth and two more in the seventh to take a commanding 6-0 lead, before the Pioneers scored a meaningless run in the bottom of the seventh.
 
Over the first four innings, FDU had opportunities to score but could not cash in. Wilen led off the game with a single, stole second and reach third after a Portesi sacrifice bunt, but a pair of groundouts ended the threat. In the top of the third, the Knights had runners on second and third with one out before loading the bases with two outs.

But FDU would receive a gift in the top of the fifth after loading the bases with two outs, as Lerma reached on a two-base error by the center fielder, resulting in Wilen, Portesi and junior Bryana Dorado (Oxnard, Calif./Oxnard) all coming around to score. Lerma then scampered home on junior Angelique Nieves (Union City, N.J./High Tech High School)' RBI single, which made it 4-0.
 
The Knights extended their advantage to 6-0 in the top of the seventh on Lerma's RBI single that scored Dorado, before Lerma came around on an error by the third baseman off the bat of Woidt.
 
Reiner (10-6) allowed just four hits in her second complete game of the day and her 12th of the season (in 15 starts). She walked one, struck out three and allowed just the one earned run in the win.
 
Adriana Mallory took the tough-luck loss for Sacred Heart in the complete game performance. Only one of the six runs she gave up was earned. She walked two and struck out one.
 
Seven of the nine batters in the FDU lineup recorded at least one hit, with Wilen and Nieves each collecting a pair. Dorado and Lerma also both scored a pair of runs.
 
The Knights return to action on Thursday, April 24 when they travel to Stony Brook, N.Y. to face Stony Brook for a nonconference doubleheader, with game on slated for 2:30 p.m. The Seawolves defeated FDU earlier this season, 6-0, at the Mustang Classic in San Luis Obispo, Calif. on March 9.