Bryant Live Stats | FDU Live Stats

HACKENSACK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson softball team (6-14, 3-3 NEC) will compete in four Northeast Conference contests across two doubleheaders this weekend, one at home and one on the road. First up are two games at reigning NEC champions Bryant (10-23, 2-2 NEC), with a noon start time, Saturday, April 11, before returning to Hackensack to host Saint Francis University (20-8, 1-1 NEC) on Sunday, April 12, with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. NEC Front Row will carry all four contests live.
 
Last Time Out
The Knights suffered a sweep at Columbia midweek and could only plate two combined runs. Megan Reiner (Los Angeles, Calif./John Marshall) and Cheryl Lopez (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) each threw three innings in game two's 2-1 loss and neither allowed an earned run but Lopez was forced to take the loss. The Knights got their one run in that game on Courtney Slye (Mission Viejo, Calif./Capistrano Valley High School)'s first career triple. Reigning NEC Player of the Week Madelaine Wilen (Bakerfield, Calif./Ridgeview High School) got her week started by going 1-for-6 at the dish.

Food Drive Info
In an effort to give back to the community that they call home during the school year, the FDU Knights Softball team will be kicking off their Second Annual Food Drive this month and are asking their friends, families and fans to help them "Knock Hunger Out of the Park" by donating non-perishable food items. A collection bin will be located near the Knights' bleachers at all home games throughout the season. Last year the team collected and delivered over 300 pounds of food to Helping Hands, a Teaneck food pantry, and an anonymous donation of $500 was made on their behalf to a national food bank. This year, with the help of their fans, the team hopes to collect 500 pounds of food. Out of town supporters are encouraged to make donations in the form of gift cards to local supermarkets. Gift cards can be mailed to the FDU softball Office.  The Knights thank you for helping them "Strike Out Hunger" in their community!
 
Bryant
2015 Season: 10-23 (2-2 NEC)
Where: Smithfield, R.I. (Bryant Softball Complex at Conaty Park)
When: April 11, 2015 – 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.
What You Need To Know: Last year's conference champions have played a very tough out-of-conference schedule and so far have split doubleheaders with Wagner and Mount St. Mary's. The Blackbirds are on a three-game losing skid after single-game losses at Albany and home against Brown. Elle Madsen, the 2014 NEC Player of the Year, is batting .287 with a team-leading seven home runs and 27 RBIs with more walks (14) than strikeouts (12). She's also added two triples while playing in every single contest. The junior is also the go-to pitcher for head coach Shayne Lotito and her 3.54 era paces the Blackbirds. Madsen has gone the distance in all but three of her 17 starts.
 
Saint Francis (PA)
2015 Season: 20-8 (1-1 NEC)
Where: Hackensack, N.J. (FDU Softball Field)
When: April 12, 2015 – 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
What You Need To Know: The Red Flash have yet to play a home contest this year but will do so finally after taking on FDU on Sunday and then at Towson three days later. After that, they'll host eight games between four doubleheaders over a four-day span. Saint Francis missed out on a postseason berth last year by one game and have impressed in its nonconference slate thus far. Taylor Parsons has started all 28 games and leads the team with a .355 average, including 10 doubles and six triples already. Inside the circle, the Red Flash have found a lot of success between Blaire Lauthers, Ethel Santal, and Alexis Bowers. Lauthers's incredible 0.85 era stands out but so does Santal's 1.71 and Bower's 2.12. Five different pitchers have recorded a save this season so head coach Jennifer Patrick-Swift has several players she can use in different situations.
 
Up Next
The Knights have Monday off before hosting Manhattan for a nonconference doubleheader on Tuesday, April 14, starting at 3 p.m.