WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Sophomore Rylie Schmeh became the Fairleigh Dickinson softball all-time triples leader as her team was edged 4-2 in a close first game of its doubleheader at Hartford before falling 7-1 in the late game as well.
 
The Knights (7-20) battled from behind to put runners in scoring position and the potential tying run at second base in the final inning of the first game, but the Hawks (10-10) made the final out to hold onto a 4-2 victory. FDU then took an early lead in the later game before allowing seven unanswered runs.
 
Schmeh finished the day 4-for-7 with two triples and two runs scored. The sophomore now has four triples this season and six for her career, tying the FDU single-season record and breaking the FDU career record.
 
Senior Reanna Cervantes went 3-for-6 on the day with a RBI double in the late game, and in the process, she moved into third place on FDU's all-time hits list with her career total now at 140.
 
Freshman Jillian Ward drove in both of FDU's runs in the first game with RBI singles in the fifth and seventh innings. Senior Serena Meehan went 3-for-3 in the opening game, and freshman Courtney Mahoney recorded hits in each game as well, including her team-high fifth double of the season.
 
In the first game, Schmeh and Cervantes each singled in the top of the first inning to start the day for the Knights, but neither runner scored as both teams were held without a run through the first two innings. Hartford then took the lead with a solo home run in the bottom of the third to go up 1-0.
 
The Knights tied the game up in the fifth when Ward singled up the middle to plate Schmeh, who had tripled to right center in the previous at-bat. The Hawks, however, benefited from a three-run home run by Paige Fedak in the bottom half of the inning to retake the lead at 4-1.
 
Cervantes and Meehan each singled in the FDU half of the sixth but were not able to score, and the Knights mounted one more rally in the top of the seventh starting with freshman Samantha Cortez reaching on an error. Three batters later, Ward again smacked a single up the middle to bring Cortez home and make it 4-2.
 
Mahoney then singled and Ward advanced up to third, drawing a throw that allowed Mahoney to put herself in scoring position as the tying run with two outs. The Hawks, however, then induced a ground ball back to the pitcher for the final out.
 
Senior Baylee Ports struck out six batters in 4.1 innings in the circle while drawing the loss. Sophomore Abby England struck out two batters in tossing 1.2 innings of scoreless relief.
 
FDU started out with the early lead in the late game, with Schmeh tripling down the right field line to open the game and Cervantes driving her home on a double to left field.
 
The Knights held their 1-0 lead until Hartford tied the game with a RBI groundout in the second inning. The Hawks then went ahead with two RBI singles in the third inning, and added another three runs in the fourth inning plus one more in the sixth.
 
Juniors Irene Herrera and Erica Johnson each allowed three earned runs and six hits in three innings of work, with Herrera taking the loss.
 
The Knights return home for their weekend Northeast Conference games this weekend, hosting Sacred Heart and LIU Brooklyn in doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. FDU's doubleheader Saturday against Sacred Heart starts at 1 p.m., and the games against LIU begin at 12 p.m., and will be streamed live on NEC Front Row.