STOCKTON, Calif. – The Fairleigh Dickinson softball team battled from behind and brought the potential winning run to the plate late in the game against University of the Pacific but could not complete the comeback in a 4-2 loss.
The Knights (4-11), who were held hitless in a 7-0 loss to Sacramento State earlier in the day, erupted for nine hits against the Tigers (6-12), with eight singles and a double. Three Knights finished with multi-hit games, led by junior
Madison Emerson who went 3-for-4 with a RBI. Freshman
Courtney Mahoney and senior
Reanna Cervantes also collected two hits apiece and Mahoney also tallied her sixth RBI of the season.
The Tigers jumped out to a 4-0 lead after scoring two runs in the first and third innings each. The Knights strung together back-to-back hits from Mahoney and Cervantes to put runners on the corners with two outs in the first inning, but the next batter was retired to end the threat.
FDU began its rally, however, in the fifth inning when freshman
Samantha Cortez singled to lead off the frame for her first hit of the season. After a fielder's choice, Emerson then slashed her second single of the day, and sophomore
Rylie Schmeh singled as well to load the bases. Mahoney then roped a base hit to right field that plated senior
Summer Mendoza for FDU's first run.
The Tigers got out of the inning by producing outs on the next two batters, but the Knights rallied again in the sixth starting with a
Cali Wyand walk with one out. After a strikeout, Wyand stole second and freshman
Amarys Miller-Godsey walked to extend the inning. Emerson then drove home Wyand with a single and moved to second on the throw to make cut the deficit to two.
Schmeh then walked to load the bases again, but the next Knight hitter struck out to end the inning, and despite Cervantes doubling down the line to lead off the seventh, the Tigers induced three straight outs to end the game.
Junior
Erica Johnson pitched four innings of relief and allowed only three hits and a walk while striking out two Tiger hitters.
FDU continues its trip through the Golden State on Tuesday with a doubleheader at St. Mary's College starting at 1 p.m., PST (4 p.m. EST).