EMMITSBURG, Md. -- The Fairleigh Dickinson softball made it interesting in game one but came up shot and was shutout in game two in a doubleheader at Mount St. Mary's on Sunday afternoon in Northeast Conference play. 

Game 1: Mount St. Mary's 12, Fairleigh Dickinson 7
 
Fairleigh Dickinson scored six runs in the fourth but Mount St. Mary's scored 11 of its 12 runs in the first three innings to withstand the rally by the Knights to hold and win.

Mount St. Mary's (11-20, 2-1 NEC) scored three times in the first, five in the second and three times in the third to build an 11-1 lead after three.

In the top of the first, Fairleigh Dickinson (2-20, 0-5 NEC) had runners at the corners with no out, but a caught stealing, line out to center and a groundout prevented the Knights from the scoring.

The Mountaineers were able to break through in the bottom half. All three runs were scored with two outs. A double from Morgan Alisauckas brought in the first run then a throwing error plated the second two.

Fairleigh Dickinson was able to get one back in the top of the second inning. Cheryl Lopez started things with a double to center field. Lopez would come around to score on a sacrifice fly off the bat from Holly Mercier.

In the bottom half of the frame, Mount St. Mary's had the first run come after an error and three walks. Alisauckas then made it 6-1 with another double to bring two. A wild pitch led to the seventh run and infield hit plated the eighth tally for the Mountaineers.

After the Knights had gone down in order in the top of the third, Rachel Heinze hit a solo homer to center and two more scored on an error after Alisauckas tripled.

The Knights got back within striking distance with a furious rally in the fourth.

Lopez singled, Summer Mendoza reached on an error and then Lopez stole third. A single from Stephanie Collins loaded the bases with no outs. A ground out plated Lopez. Francine Villalobos was hit to load the bases for a second time.

Reanna Cervantes reached on a fielder's choice that scored another run to make it 11-3. A single from Meehan and then a double from Kellie Natham made it an 11-6 game. Madison Emerson knocked in the sixth and final run of the inning with a single up the middle. Two more singled would load the bases before a strikeout would end the rally for the Knights.

A Lindsay Heinze homer to lead off the fifth was the final run of the game and made it 12-7 Mount St. Mary's.

The Knights had one hit over the sixth and seventh innings, a Meehan single in the sixth.

Fairleigh Dickinson totaled 14 hits in game one but left eight on base including the bases loaded once and two on in the second.

Lopez (0-2) started for the Knights and went one-plus innings while allowing eight runs – five earned.  

Sam Lichtner (8-5) went four innings to earn the win. Only two of the seven runs were earned. Jordan Weaver pitched the final three innings to earn the save.

Game 2 – Mount St. Mary's 7, Fairleigh Dickinson 0
 
Mount St. Mary's (12-20, 3-1 NEC) scored in the first three innings and Marian Ruf held Fairleigh Dickinson (2-21, 0-6 NEC) to just six hits in a complete game shutout.

Rachel Heinze doubled down the left field in the first to score Jessica Greenewald. In the second, Ruf helped her own cause with a two-run homer to left center.

Ruf once again helped herself with a double to left center to Heinze and make it 5-0. The Mountaineers would then score two more in the sixth to make it 7-0.

The Knights had a chance to tie it at one in the second inning. Cheryl Lopez walked and stole second before Summer Mendoza got on. A groundout moved the two over to second and third before a pop-up and a strike out stranded them there.

Fairleigh Dickinson would get two more runners on in the fifth when it was 5-0. Ana Hayes was hit by a pitch and Reanna Cervantes doubles. The two would be left at second and third as well after a ground out and a pop up.

In the sixth, the Knights left runners at second and third against after a groundout ended the frame.

The Knights used three pitchers on the afternoon, each for two innings. Erica Johnson (2-6) started and allowed five of the seven runs. Irene Herrera pitched two innings of scoreless relief before Madison Emerson pitched the final two and allowed two runs.

Up next, is a doubleheader at Rider on Wednesday before traveling to Bryant on Saturday for another Northeast Conference doubleheader.