WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - Fairleigh Dickinson softball (6-11, 0-0 NEC) notched two big-time wins Tuesday as the Knights swept Monmouth on the road to secure the season series win (3-of-4 games) over the Hawks this season.

After splitting the first two games of the season against the in-state foe down in Jacksonville, Fla., the Knights struck first late in a thrilling 3-2 victory to kick-off the afternoon down the shore. Senior Alayna Savaglio was sent to the circle where she pitched 5.1 innings, allowing five hits, two runs (earned), while striking out four. Offensively, freshman Andreya Flores got the Burgundy and Blue started in the top of the first inning when the California native reached home following a single by fellow rookie Sabrina Javorsky that could have been extended into an extra-base hit. In the following inning, the Hawks would answer back with a two-run homer to left as the home side took a 2-1 advantage. Following a collision involving a pop-up in the sixth inning, the Burgundy and Blue turned to their bullpen and junior Malori Bell to come-on in relief of Savaglio. The Keansburg, N.J. product faced four batters in 1.1 innings of action, striking out one without allowing a run. Moving to last licks for the Knights, junior Savannah Thornell stepped up in a major spot with a two-run bomb in the top of the seventh to propel FDU to a 3-2 lead in what would be the game-winning hit.

Bell would earn the win in game one, her first of the season, while FDU snapped a four-game skid.

"That was a big great team win. We played great defensively, got some key hits on offense," commented head coach Chris Foye. "Alayna did great pitching and Malori came in and shut the door. All together, that was an overall great team win and we're hoping to carry it over into the second game."

Moving to the nightcap of the doubleheader, Foye turned to freshman Julia Swan to deal in the circle as the Knights went for the season series win over Monmouth. Down 2-0 after the second inning, FDU's defense shored-up in a major way not allowing a run the rest of the way. The Knights' bats were active most of the afternoon with the no-hitter whispers quieted in the top of the first following a single by two-time NEC Rookie of the Week Jess DeWitt. The major hit of the game would come at the hands of senior Hailey Ramberg who would come off the bench and pop a crucial RBI single with a 1-1 count in the top half of the fifth frame to cut the Hawks' lead in half. Ramberg would score newcomer Payton Wagner in her only plate appearance of the afternoon. The rest of the inning, FDU would go merry-go-round on the bases with senior Courtney Mahoney singling to left to score rookie Sydney Newton, DeWitt popping an RBI single of her own to score Mahoney and Sabrina Javorsky putting up a single of her own to push DeWitt over the plate.

FDU's final three runs of the game would come by way of a hit-by-pitch with the bases juiced courtesy of Thornell, a walk by Wagner and the dagger would come off a wild watch to send Jillian Ward home to seal-the-deal for the Knights' 7-2 victory. In the home half of the seventh, Monmouth began to mount a comeback aided by some questionable walks, though the Knights were able to find a way to make three outs and sweep the doubleheader with Monmouth.
 

By the Numbers

- Thornell's home run was her first since 2020 (third of career)
- Swan pitched her first career complete game
- The Knights' doubleheader sweep was the first since May 2 when FDU toppled Bryant to close-out NEC play
- FDU has won 3-of-4 this season against Monmouth

The Knights return to action on Friday, March 18, for the first Northeast Conference series of the season when the Knights do battle with Central Connecticut in New Britain, Conn. with the first game of the doubleheader slated to begin at 1 p.m. followed by a 3 p.m. middle game of the series. The teams will finish the series on Sunday, March 20, with a single game at 1 p.m.