NEW BRITAIN, Conn. - Fairleigh Dickinson softball (6-11, 0-0 NEC) looks to ride their two-game winning streak up I-95 to Connecticut this weekend as the Knights pay Central Connecticut (0-18, 0-0 NEC) a visit in the first weekend of Northeast Conference play for both clubs. The Blue Devils swept all three games of the 2021 series.

Series Information
Games 1 and 2 - Friday, March 18, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
CCSU Softball Field - New Britain, Conn.
NEC Front Row (Both) | Live Stats (G1), Live Stats (G2)

Game 3 - Sunday, March 20, 1 p.m.
CCSU Softball Field - New Britain, Conn.
NEC Front Row | Live Stats

With the Burgundy and Blue rookies leading the charge, FDU has gotten back to its winning ways after dropping four-consecutive non-conference games in the Sunshine State during the UNF-JU Spring Break Challenge in Jacksonville, Fla. Topping Monmouth Tuesday on the road in the third and fourth games against the Hawks this season, Chris Foye's 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.

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.

"I am looking forward to our first conference weekend," remarked Foye. "The team has been working hard day in and day out and I believe our early competitive non-league schedule has helped us prepare well for what lies ahead the rest of the season."

Following the weekend against CCSU, the Knights visit Lafayette for a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday, March 23, beginning at 3 p.m.

Fans can stay connected with FDU softball on Twitter and Instagram, @FDUKnightsSB.