HACKENSACK, N.J. - The Fairleigh Dickinson softball team earned a two game sweep over the Wagner Seahawks on Senior Day Sunday afternoon at the FDU Softball Field to close out their 2018 home schedule. The wins move the Knights to 14-23 on the season, including a 6-6 mark in NEC play.
The Knights return to action on Tuesday, May 1 when they head to Philadelphia, Pa. for an afternoon doubleheader against Villanova.
Game One: Fairleigh Dickinson 9, Wagner 8
A pregame ceremony to honor the contributions of senior Jaymee Jackson gave way to a wild opening game that saw the Knights and Seahawks combine for 18 hits, seven errors and 17 runs over seven innings, however the Knights managed to hold on for the win in thrilling fashion, 9-8.
FDU got the party started in the bottom of the first courtesy of an Abby England solo blast ripped to dead center field that gave the Knights the first lead of the game. Wagner answered right back in the top of the third, putting up a pair of runs on a single and sacrifice fly to make it 2-1.
After Madison Emerson evened the scoring in the bottom of the third with another SAC, Holly Mercier helped the Knights regain the lead with a triple to right field that scored Summer Mendoza to make it 3-2.
The wild game would continue, however, as Wagner re-took the lead yet again with a three-run outburst in the fifth. The Knights needed another big response at the plate, and they delivered. First Emerson made it 5-4 on an RBI double before Reanna Cervantes tied things up at 5 with a single to right field that sent the tying run home.
That brought Abby England to the plate, who stepped up and mashed her second homer of the game, this one a grand slam that blew the game open and gave FDU a commanding 9-5 lead.
Wagner would threaten a comeback with three runs in the sixth, however pitcher Erica Johnson was able to hold on and get the save for FDU. Baylee Ports earned her sixth win of the season in the circle for FDU, while England finished 2-3 with five RBIs.
Game Two: Fairleigh Dickinson 5, Wagner 2
FDU enjoyed a hit parade in game two as well, going off for 11 against Wagner, however it was Ports in her second start of the afternoon that proved to be the edge for Fairleigh Dickinson. The junior struck out five and scattered five runs in the circle to get the win for FDU, her second of the day.
Ironically, Wagner came out and did all of the damage in the opening frame, racing out to an early 2-0 lead off of an RBI single to short. It would be the last time FDU trailed on the afternoon.
Emerson recouped one in the bottom of the first off of another RBI single before Cervantes put the Knights ahead 3-2 on a screaming double to right field.
Cervantes belted a solo shot to left in the bottom of the fourth, her third homer on the year and third on the day for the Knights as FDU pushed ahead 4-2.
Ports retired 12 of the final 13 batters she faced to get the win and moved her record to 7-8 on the season. Mendoza finished with three hits while Cervantes went 2-3 with three RBIs at the plate for the Knights.
