SMITHFIELD, RI – The Fairleigh Dickinson softball team is set to play a four-game weekend series when they travel to Smithfield, RI to take on the Bryant Bulldogs. Saturday's first game will be at 1:00 p.m. and the second game around 3:00 p.m. and on Sunday, first pitch will be at 12:00 p.m. and game two will begin around 2:00 p.m.
Series Info
FDU (8-18, 8-16 NEC) at Bryant (2-17, 1-14 NEC)
Game 1: Saturday, May 1 at 1:00 p.m. – Conaty Park
Game 2: Saturday, May 1 at 3:00 p.m. – Conaty Park
Game 3: Sunday, May 2 at 12:00 p.m. – Conaty Park
Game 4: Sunday, May 2 at 2:00 p.m. – Conaty Park
FDU student-athletes will be allowed two guests to attend each home contest
Coverage: Watch
In-Game Updates: @FDUKnightsSB
All-Time Series
Bryant leads 16-6
Streak…L1
First Meeting…4/26/09 (FDU 6, Bryant 2)
Last Meeting…4/13/19 (Bryant 5, FDU 2)
NEC Season Format and Preseason Poll
There will be a 32-game conference schedule that will be played in a round-robin (four-game series) format over eight weeks from March 20-May 9. The NEC will only have four teams qualify for a double-elimination NEC Championship that will take place from May 13-15. FDU was predicted to finish seventh in the NEC Preseason Poll.
Scouting the Bulldogs
Bryant is led offensively by Erica Barley and Megan Marcel, who each are tied for the team lead with two homers, four doubles, and seven RBI's. Courtney Paolantonio has also hit two homers to this point in the season. Jocelyn Bodington has started 10 games on the mound and has a 5.64 ERA in 36.0 innings pitched.
More on the Bulldogs
Scouting the Knights
FDU split its most recent NEC series against Mount St. Mary's earlier this week with a 6-2 win in game one and a 2-0 loss in game two. In game one, sophomore
Hailey Ramberg gave FDU the lead with a two-RBI single before the Mount tied the game. Junior
Courtney Mahoney gave FDU the lead back in the fifth inning with a two-run homer. Freshman
Riley Phillips and graduate student
Summer Mendoza also drove in RBI's. Junior
Alayna Savaglio pitched a gem with a complete game, only allowing two hits, and striking out 10 batters. On the season, Savaglio leads the Knights in innings pitched with 81.1, ERA with a 2.58, complete games with eight, strikeouts with 110, and wins with five. Graduate student
Madison Emerson leads FDU's offense with a .373 batting average, five homers, 25 RBI's, and 10 doubles. Sophomore
Cassidy Triska has hit four homers and driven in 14 RBI's.
More on the Knights
Coach Foye's Thoughts
"Another phenomenal performance by Alayna with 24 strikeouts. Unfortunately, we couldn't get her runs in the second game but she definitely did her part on the mound. She continues to prove to us why she should have the ball on the mound."
"Hailey has been making some adjustments at the plate and her two out two RBI single to take lead was huge for us because we needed to score first and that got the ball rolling for us. Courtney's homer put us back on top to give us the lead and helped take some pressure off Alayna on the mound."
What's Next
FDU will conclude its regular season on Sunday, May 9 when they host Hofstra on Senior Day beginning at 12:00 p.m.
