HACKENSACK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson softball team concludes its trip to California with four games this weekend hosted at Sacramento State and UC Davis.
The Knights (5-12) play two games at Sacramento State on Friday followed by two games at UC Davis on Saturday. They play one game against each host school, and they face Marist as the second game at both locations. Games against the host institutions will be live streamed along with the second contest vs. Marist, and all games will have live stats available.
GAME SCHEDULE
Friday, March 15, 9:30 a.m. PST (12:30 p.m. EST) | vs. Marist | Sacramento, Calif. |
Live Stats
Friday, March 15, 12 p.m. PST (3 p.m. EST) | at Sacramento State | Sacramento, Calif. |
Live Stats |
Live Video
Saturday, March 16, 9:30 a.m. PST (12:30 p.m. EST) | vs. Marist | Davis, Calif. |
Live Stats |
Live Video
Saturday, March 16, 12 p.m. PST (3 p.m. PST) | at UC Davis | Davis Calif. |
Live Stats |
Live Video
ENTERING THE WEEKEND
The Knights split a doubleheader at St. Mary's College and dropped both games of a doubleheader at California Berkeley earlier this week. Junior
Erica Johnson tossed a complete game shutout in the 1-0 win over St. Mary's, allowing only two hits with two strikeouts. Sophomore
Rylie Schmeh knocked in her team-leading seventh RBI of the season to provide the Knights the advantage in the victory, and she also scored one of two runs in a 3-2 loss to the Gaels.
CLIMBING THE RECORD BOOKS
With two hits including a double against Cal on Wednesday, senior
Reanna Cervantes moved into third place on FDU's career doubles list with 33 as well as fifth in program history in total hits with 134. Cervantes is currently first in slugging percentage (.538) among players with at least 200 at-bats in program history and is tied for the program lead in career triples (5). The senior also ranks in the top 10 in program history in batting average (third - .324), total bases (tied for third – 216), home runs (fourth – 15), hit by pitch (fifth – 12), on-base percentage (sixth - .367) and runs scored (ninth - 63).
CAPITAL CLASSIC INFO
This weekend's games for the Knights are part of a tournament hosted by both Sacramento State and UC Davis. The games at Sacramento State will be played at Shea Stadium in Sacramento, Calif., while the two contests at UC Davis will be played at LaRue Field in Davis, Calif. Tickets are required to attend at both games, and links to purchase tickets can be found on the
Sacramento State tournament page and on the
UC Davis tournament page for games at the respective fields.
OPPONENT HISTORY
The Knights have a combined record of 6-3 against the three opponents they will face this weekend. FDU is 4-0 all-time against Marist, who they have not faced since 2012, and they are 1-1 against UC Davis, splitting two games with the Aggies last year. The Knights are 1-2 against Sacramento State, having already played the Hornets earlier this season in a 7-0 loss.
SCOUTING MARIST
The Red Foxes (5-6) won two of five games last weekend at the Charleston Invitational, defeating Youngstown State and fellow NEC school Bryant while suffering losses to N.C. State, Rhode Island and host College of Charleston. Ali Milam (.444) and Caroline Baratta (.415) are both batting over .400 in 11 games this season, with Milam hitting three home runs and driving in 18 runs as well thus far. The Red Foxes are led in the circle by Kallen Leeseberg (0.64 ERA in 14 IP) and Calista Phippen (4-0, 1.78 ERA, 37 Ks in 30.1 IP). Last season, Marist finished 27-32 and 9-11 in the MAAC, falling in the MAAC Championship game to Fairfield. Marist was picked to finish third in the MAAC in the 2019 preseason poll.
SCOUTING SACRAMENTO STATE
The Hornets (11-10) won three out of five games at the Louisville Slugger Tourney hosted by University of the Pacific, with one of their wins coming against the Knights. The Hornets also defeated host Pacific twice but lost to 24th-ranked Boise State twice. Sacramento State also dropped a 4-0 contest to UC Davis on Tuesday and play Bucknell in a single game on Thursday before facing FDU. The Hornets have hit 18 home runs this season and have a team batting average of .262, led by senior Nene Alas with a .381 average.
SCOUTING UC DAVIS
The Aggies (18-4) enter the weekend having won seven straight games 12 of 14 overall. Two players have hit five home runs for the Aggies in Meghan Bradbury and Megan Bower, and Bradbury leads the team with a .379 batting average and 24 RBI. Brooke Yanez is 12-1 with a .145 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 77 innings pitched to lead UC Davis pitchers this season. The Aggies were picked to finish third in the Big West Preseason Poll after going 27-24 last season.
UP NEXT
FDU returns to New Jersey from California following Saturday's games at UC Davis, returning to action on Tuesday, March 19, for a doubleheader at Saint Peter's beginning at 1 p.m.
