SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Fairleigh Dickinson softball fell to in both games at Bryant on Saturday by identical 7-0 scores. The Knights fall to 2-25 overall and 0-8 in Northeast Conference play after the pair of setbacks. Bryant moves to 10-29 overall and 5-5 in NEC play.
Offensively for the Knights,
Summer Mendoza went 3-for-6 over the two games.
Madison Emerson,
Kellie Natham and
Holly Mercier each had two hits on the day. In the circle, the Knights used five different pitchers over the two games.
Game 1: Bryant 7, Fairleigh Dickinson 0
Bryant scored two in the second and five in the fifth to earn the shutout win. Fairleigh Dickinson was held to six hits – two from Mendoza – over the seven innings and made two errors that lead directly to Bulldog runs.
Nicole Zukowski drove in five of the seven runs for the Bulldogs in the first game. All five RBI came via the home run – both to left field – with a two-run shot in the second and a three-run shot to conclude the scoring in the fifth.
The Knights got two runners in the third inning, but a double play cut one down at third and a strike out stranded one a second.
A defensive miscue by Fairleigh Dickinson led to the first run of the fifth for Bryant. Another scored on a RBI single to left before the three-run homer by Zukowski.
In the top of the seventh, Fairleigh Dickinson got two runners on – Natham, Emerson – but stranded them at first and second with a pop out and a strikeout to end the game.
Cheryl Lopez (0-4) started and went four and a third while allowing six run – five earned – while striking out three.
Baylee Ports pitched the final 1 2/3 in relief. Gabrielle Emrish (7-6) went 5 1/3 and only allowed three hits to earn the win.
Game 2: Bryant 7, Fairleigh Dickinson 0
The scoring for the Bulldogs was spread over three innings in game two; one in the second, four in the fourth and one in the fifth.
Five of the seven runs for Bryant were unearned as the Knights committed four errors in game two. The first run was scored on an error after a single from Gabrielle Emrish. Three of the four runs in the fourth were unearned. Two of the runs scored for Bryant without a hit and the third as scored on a sacrifice fly.
A single from Taylor Burger made it a 5-0 game.
Erica Johnson (2-8) started and went three innings for Fairleigh Dickinson. Only one of the five runs the freshman allowed was earned. Johnson did walk four and allowed four hits.
Bryant scored two more in the fifth on a fielder's choice and a double steal.
The best chance for the Knights came in the fourth. Back-to-back singles from
Kellie Natham and Madison put Knights on first and second with one away. However,
Cheryl Lopez and
Francine Villalobos both flew out to end the frame.
The Knights did get runners in the fifth and seventh innings, but none got past second base.
Emrish earned her second win of the day after going 5 2/3, struck out four and scattered five hits.
Summer Mendoza and
Madison Emerson both extended hit streaks to six games with hits in game two.
Up next for Fairleigh Dickinson is a road game at UCONN on Wednesday followed by a home doubleheader against Villanova on Thursday at the FDU Softball Field.
