HACKENSACK, N.J. - Resuming conference action Saturday, the Fairleigh Dickinson softball team (14-13, 6-2 NEC) split a mid-afternoon doubleheader with Sacred Heart (7-21, 2-3 NEC) with the Knights dropping the first game and bouncing back for a six-inning eight-run win over the Pioneers in the nightcap.

Falling behind 1-0 early on in the opener, junior shortstop Cassidy Triska responded with a first-pitch bomb to even the game up at one. In the following inning, sophomore outfielder Megan Berg was the beneficiary of an error by the Pioneers' center fielder and went first to third, scoring Triska to put the Knights in front, 2-1. Moving to the third inning, senior southpaw Alayna Savaglio attained her 100th strikeout this season to retire the side, sitting with 107 after her day concluded.

With the Knights' offense retried in order in the bottom half of the inning, Sacred Heart responded with a string of three home runs in the fourth, two of which came with two outs. FDU's resilience showed once again as newcomer Angela Costa, who earned the start at third base, doubled to left scoring senior outfielder Courtney Mahoney to bring the Burgundy and Blue within one as the score sat 4-3. The Pioneers would deliver the fatal dagger in the seventh with yet another home run, a two-run shot to put the visitors in front 6-3. Knights first baseman junior Savannah Thornell sought to ignite a rally for her club by way of an error in left field to score freshman catcher Sabrina Javorsky, though the effort would fall short as the run would be the only scored by FDU in the last frame of the game with the side falling 6-4.

Savaglio's 13 strikeouts against the Pioneers were the most of any Knights pitcher this season, while Javorsky set a new high mark for putouts with 14.

Following the two-hour and five minute contest, the NEC foes did battle once again with Knights head coach Chris Foye sending rookie Julia Swan to the circle for her fourth career start and 14th appearance in the Burgundy and Blue. Swan dazzled in her outing allowing just one run in a 9-1 victory for FDU. Conceding a hit to the Pioneers' leadoff batter, the Whippany, N.J. native would allow just three more the remainder of her complete-game six-inning performance behind a stellar Knights defense. Going up 3-0 in the first inning bolstered by yet another home run by Triska and a two-run round tripper by designated player junior Hailey Ramberg, FDU's offense went off for eight hits, half of which were home runs, the most in any game this season.

Allowing the lone SHU run to come in the third frame, FDU's offense would tack on two in the fourth inning by way of a "Sleeveless Javo" RBI double scoring Triska and Mahoney, a run in the fifth by Brandi Mitchell off an error that saw Costa reach first and a two-run home run to put the game in the books by freshman Andreya Flores who served as half of the Knights' battery which had the sense of a walk-off. Javorsky scored on the dinger by Flores.

Despite not getting many strikeouts, Swan's performance saw her take the role of groundout specialist, producing 10 in 28 batters faced.

"I am proud of the team for coming back and winning the second game in an eight-run rule after losing a tough first game," commented Foye. "We had a run of seven wins in a row which is extremely hard to do at this level but we just have to stay focused on winning series. Our power numbers continue to improve and one of the great things about this team is players that don't always start are contributing when they get opportunities."

FDU looks to finish-off Sacred Heart and take their third NEC series of the season in the rubber game on Monday, April 4, at 11 a.m. at FDU Softball Field. Fans can catch the action live on NEC Front Row.