GREENSBORO, N.C. - On Opening Day the Fairleigh Dickinson softball team (0-2, 0-0 NEC) dropped the first two games of the Aggie Invitational to the host, North Carolina A&T, including a nine inning battle to open up the 2022 season.

In game one, the Knights raced out to an early 1-0 lead with Riley De Laval scoring on an error that also moved Jillian Ward and Cassidy Triska around the bases. The lead would be short-lived as the Aggies would even up the score at 1-1. Staying deadlocked for the full seven innings, free softball was in order for the early game of the twin bill. In the away half of the ninth, Andreya Flores hit for extra bases and logged an RBI as Sydney Newton would cross home and put FDU up 2-1. Moving to the home half of the inning, NCAT hit their spots and would add two runs with FDU falling 3-2 to begin the season. Alayna Savaglio earned the start for the Knights. Chris Foye's ace went 7.0 innings of work, allowing one hit, one run, walking three. Savaglio struck out 12 of her 27 batters faced. Into the bullpen, Foye turned to Julia Swan to come on in relief, with the rookie pitching one inning, allowing one hit, one run (earned), recording one strikeout. Payton Wagner was on the short end of the decision, coming out in the ninth for two-thirds of the inning. Despite having a run on the board early on, FDU was no-hit until the final inning of extras, popping two including a blast down the right field line by Hayden Salter and an extra base hit (the team's first of the season) by Flores.

Following the three hour, three minute contest, the two sides did battle again with the Knights again falling, this time 9-3. The Knights found themselves down 7-1 after the first three innings but began to chip away with the side adding a run in back-to-back innings (third and fourth). Jess DeWitt got the ball rolling with an RBI double to deep right field allowing Megan Berg to score the opening run for the Burgundy and Blue. Berg would be have a hand in the next scoring play, reaching base on a fielder's choice for an RBI that allowed Brandi Mitchell to score the Knights' second run of the ballgame. Flores would double down the right field line to allow Salter to score the third and final run for FDU.

"We had a challenging first day of the season but I am confident that we will come back better tomorrow," said Foye. "We are still working on solidifying a lineup that will put us in the best position to be competitive and that will come with time."

The Knights' stay in North Carolina continues with two games at the Aggie Softball Complex tomorrow, February 19, beginning with a 9:30 a.m. contest against George Mason before a 2:30 p.m. tilt with the Aggies yet again. Play in the Tar Heel state concludes on Sunday, February 20, with a final game against the Patriots at 11 a.m.