HACKENSACK, N.J. - The Fairleigh Dickinson softball team split a pair of games against the Hartford Hawks Wednesday afternoon at the FDU Softball Field, losing game one 2-1 and winning game two 13-5. The split moves the Knights record to 10-19 on the season.
The Knights return to action on Saturday, April 14 when they host Mount St. Mary's at 1 and 3 p.m.
Game One: Hartford 2, Fairleigh Dickinson 1
Hartford out-hit the Knights 11-6 in game one to edge out a 2-1 victory as pitcher Isabella Gerone manage to stifle the FDU bats just enough to scrape by with a win.
FDU actually managed to strike first, going up 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning. Rylie Schmeh knocked a double into left field before Jaymee Jackson drove her in with a single to give the Knights the early advantage.
Hartford answered back quickly, however, evening things up at one run apiece in the top of the third courtesy of a Danielle Rocheleau infield single after Nicolette Barranger led off with a triple deep to right field.
They took the lead one inning later after a hard-hit ball to second base scored Jen Johnson.
The Knights had their chances to even things up but could not capitalize as the game wore on.
FDU put runners in scoring position in both the fifth and sixth innings, however Gerone managed to work out of danger twice, getting Madison Emerson to fly out to end the fifth and Amber VanderGoot to ground out to third to end the sixth.
Although Jackson and Summer Mendoza managed to lead off the seventh with back-to-back singles, senior Bianca Ross came in and closed things down in the circle, retiring three straight batters to earn the save and secure the win for Hartford.
Game Two: Fairleigh Dickinson 13, Hartford 5
The second leg of Wednesday's doubleheader featured an offensive explosion for the Knights after being stymied in game one. FDU strung together 11 hits to put 13 runs up on the board and take down the Hawks in five innings.
Erica Johnson appeared in relief and picked up her second win of the season in the circle.
FDU managed to strike first again in game two, this time opening up a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first. After Emerson scored from third on a wild pitch, Cervantes belted a two-run homer to left center to push the Knights advantage to three.
After recouping one run in the top of the second, Hartford grabbed control of the lead, going up 4-3 after Madison Hilimire smoked a two-run shot of her own that chased starter Abby England from the game.
Luckily for Johnson, the Knights responded with some big-time run support, going off for a five-hit, six-run third inning. Mercier started the rally off with an RBI double before Schmeh and Mendoza added to the rally with hits of their own.
They added four more in the bottom of the fourth to push the lead to 13-4 before closing things out in the fifth.
Cervantes went 2-3 with two RBI's at the plate for FDU in game two.
