RUSTON, La. – Senior
Reanna Cervantes went 3-for-3 and the Fairleigh Dickinson softball team logged its highest offensive output of the new season but fell short 7-5 at Louisiana Tech on Sunday night.
The Knights (0-4) erased a two-run deficit and held a pair of one-run leads in the fourth and fifth innings before the host Lady Techsters (10-1) eventually moved in front for good with three tallies in the home fifth.
Cervantes added an RBI and a run scored to her ledger as the Knights registered five runs on six hits in the loss. The senior was named to the all-tournament team at the end of the game as well.
Center fielder Jazlyn Crowder paced the home team with a 2-for-4 effort, which included a two-run home run and a pair of runs scored.
Cervantes opened the scoring in the top of the first when she singled down the left field line, knocking home
Holly Mercier in the process. Mercier had reached and advanced into scoring position via a throwing error.
The Lady Techsters would answer with a three-spot in the home half of the frame. A leadoff walk and an RBI single set the stage for Crowder who launched her two-run shot over the left field fence.
After a pair of scoreless innings, the Knights evened the score in the third. Freshman
Riley De Laval notched her first collegiate hit with a single through the left side and eventually scored as the second half of a double steal with
Serena Meehan. Meehan had entered the game as a pinch runner for
Madison Emerson.
Following a Cervantes single, Meehan would later score on the Knights' second double-steal attempt of the inning.
FDU starter
Baylee Ports worked around a pair of hits in the home third to keep the score knotted at three before the Knights moved in front in the fourth. A leadoff walk by
Abby England was followed by a pair of singles by
Trisha Cook and
Summer Mendoza. With the bases loaded and one out, England scored on a fielder's choice.
The Lady Techsters tied the game in the bottom of the inning on a solo blast by Bayli Simon but the Knights would move in front again.
In the top of the fifth, a leadoff walk by Emerson was followed by Cervantes' third hit of the day. A sacrifice bunt moved Cervantes into scoring position and she later scored on a fielder's choice to put the Knights on top 5-4.
Unfortunately for the Burgundy and Blue, that would be their final run of the game. Three runs on three hits followed for Tech in the bottom of the fifth as they captured their 7-5 lead.
The Knights went quietly in the sixth and seventh innings against Preslee Gallaway, who nailed down her third save of the season for Tech.
Hannah Koenig (2-0) earned the win for the home team, while Ports (0-1) picked up the loss with a final line of 4.1 innings, 10 hits, seven runs (six earned) and four walks.
Erica Johnson, who started the Knights' game against Wichita State earlier in the day, provided 1.2 innings of scoreless relief.
The Knights remain in Louisiana for their next four dates. First up is a doubleheader against Northwestern State this Tuesday, February 19 at 6:00 p.m. (EST).
