BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – The Fairleigh Dickinson softball team (0-6, 0-4 NEC) falling 11-5 in game one and 4-3 in game two to LIU (6-2, 6-2 NEC) on Wednesday afternoon from the LIU Softball Complex.

In game one, FDU compiled a season-high nine hits and five runs. Graduate student Madison Emerson went 3-4 from the dish with a double and scored two runs. Fellow graduate student Summer Mendoza reached base all four times she appeared at the plate as she went 2-2 with a triple, an RBI, and two walks. Freshman Abbey Hoesman also launched her first career homer in the contest.

In game two, junior Alayna Savaglio pitched all six innings, allowing four runs and striking out six LIU batters. Mendoza led the offense again as she went 2-3 with a walk and a run scored and went a total of 4-5 with three walks on the day. Sophomore Cassidy Triska went 2-2 from the dish with a walk. Emerson and Bell recorded the other two FDU hits.

Coach Foye's Thoughts

"Overall our offense was better as we were able to get more hits, runs and base runners then we did our previous four games, but we need to do a better job of finding ways to get them across," said coach Foye. 

"Summer had great overall at bats in both games and played solid defense. Cassidy had timely hits and was getting on base consistently, she was seeing the ball well today. Abbey was a wall back behind the plate, she made a big play on a bunt and her first college hit was a HR that cut the deficit in half. Alayna pitched great for the second game in a row and combined with our solid defense we were able to hold them scoreless for a few innings which was a big confidence booster.

"This weekend vs CCSU is a big conference series for us as they are 4-0 and we are 0-4. We are still working our way back from Covid issues, but have improved every game so I feel we are headed in a positive direction going into this weekend."

Game 1: LIU 11, FDU 5
How it Happened

• Emerson opened the afternoon with a single to center field and Mendoza reached base after drawing a six-pitch walk as runners were on first and second with nobody out in the top of the first.
• After a pair of strikeouts, senior Rylie Schmeh drew the Knights second walk of the inning and Emerson scored off a wild pitch before the Knights added two more runs after a high pitch for ball four to Triska that scored Mendoza from third and Triska ran to second after the ball went to the backstop and an over throw to second scored Schmeh as FDU led 3-0 after the top half of the first inning.
• Senior Abby England recorded her first start of the season on the mound and LIU scored two runs in the bottom half of the first on a two-run homer from Samantha Garcia in what was now a 3-2 game after one inning of action.
• LIU scored three runs in the bottom of the second and took a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the second sparked by a two RBI triple from Katie Hinkle and an RBI single from Patricia Griffin.
• Mendoza and Thornell both reached base to start the top of the third inning via a walk and single through the left side of the infield respectively, but after Schmeh advanced Mendoza to third, Triska roped a ball into left field that was caught to end the inning.
• The Sharks added three more runs to the lead in the bottom of the third, but the Knights offense responded with two runs of their own off a homer from Hoesman and an RBI triple from Mendoza that brought in Emerson as the Knights cut the deficit to 8-5 entering the bottom of the fourth.
• Angelina Reno pushed the LIU back to 10-5 with a homer to left center in the bottom of the fourth, but the Knights offense again applied pressure in the top of the fifth as Schmeh reached second off a single from Triska and both runners moved up on a ground out from junior Courtney Mahoney before Hoesman flew out to center to end the inning.
• After freshman Riley Jones pitched a scoreless bottom of the fifth, Emerson and Mendoza both singled and Emerson reached third before Savaglio lined out to third base.
• The Sharks added one more run to their total in the bottom of the sixth and Schmeh registered a single in the top of the seventh before the fell in game one.

Game 2: LIU 4, FDU 3
How it Happened

• Mendoza extended her on-base streak for the day to five straight appearances with a single through the left side of the infield, but was left on first base to end the top of the first.
• Savaglio took the ball in game two for the Knights and in the first inning the Sharks got on the board by scoring a run on a wild pitch, but Savaglio retired the side as LIU led 1-0.
• After one hit in the top of the second from Triska, Savaglio struck out two of the three batters she registered outs for and allowed no runs in the frame.
• Mendoza poked another single through the left side in the top of the third, which marked the third straight inning with a baserunner before the Knights were retired and Savaglio got to two outs in the bottom of the third before LIU added two runs to their lead and led 3-0 after three.
• Savaglio drew a six-pitch walk to start the fourth inning and freshman Riley Phillips came in to run for Savaglio and was moved over to second on a bunt from Schmeh before Triska earned another FDU walk to get runners on first and second with one out.
• Hoesman moved Phillips to third base, but LIU got out of the jam with a Mahoney pop out to the short stop and added another run to the board with an RBI bunt single to extend the lead to 4-0 after four innings.
• FDU's offense loaded the bases to start the fifth inning on a pair of singles from sophomore Malori Bell and Emerson and a five-pitch walk from Mendoza with no outs.
• Ramberg drew a five-pitch walk and registered an RBI and Savaglio reached on a fielder's choice and recorded and RBI while Emerson and Mendoza scored to make it a 4-3 ball game.
• Triska singled through the left side of the infield and Savaglio reached third base with two outs, but Hoesman flew out to center to end the inning and Savaglio retired the side in order in the bottom of the fifth.
• After the Knights were set down in order at the top of the sixth inning, Savaglio extended her consecutive out streak to five before Ryleigh Bermea reached first base with a single, but Savaglio again held LIU scoreless as FDU only trailed by a run entering the seventh.
• Mendoza reached second base to start the seventh, but was thrown out at third on a fielder's choice and LIU held on to win 4-3.

What's Next
FDU will host its first home series of the season beginning on Friday, April 2 with a doubleheader against Central Connecticut State beginning at 1:00 p.m.