HACKENSACK, N.J. - After a red-hot start to Northeast Conference play, the Fairleigh Dickinson softball team (17-19, 9-6 NEC) will look to regain some ground after a pair of setbacks against Bryant and Mount St. Mary's as conference play continues will all eyes on the four slots in the 2022 NEC tournament.

FDU's league slate continues this weekend with the second-to-last regular season home series as the Burgundy and Blue get set to welcome in Saint Francis U (Pa.) for a three-game series at FDU Softball Field, beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 23 beginning at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The series finale comes the following day, Sunday, April 24 at 12 p.m. All three games in the series will air live on NEC Front Row.

Series Information
FDU vs. Saint Francis U (Pa.)
Games 1 and 2 - Saturday, April 23 (1 p.m. / 3 p.m.), Game 3 - Sunday, April 24 (12 p.m.)
NEC Front Row (Games 1 and 2) | NEC Front Row (Game 3) | Live Stats

FDU snapped a six-game skid dating to the second game of the Bryant series on April 9 last week when the Knights bested the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers 4-1 in the series finale, cutting the Mount's 13-game win streak. Senior southpaw Alayna Savaglio regained her force in the circle, allowing just one earned run and two hits while striking out eight. The top of the order was crucial for FDU in the victory with the 1-2-3 punch of four-time NEC Rookie of the Week Jess DeWitt earning the start at second, producing the first run of the game for either side with a fielder's choice to score leadoff batter Cassidy Triska to open the scoring for either side in the top of the first inning. Tied 1-1 heading into the second frame, senior center fielder Courtney Mahoney produced a two-run single, scoring freshmen Isabella Herring and LoriAnne O'Connor. Mahoney worked her way into the two spot in the Knights' order and made her presence known quickly. Up 3-1 in the final frame, junior and reigning one-time NEC Player of the Week Cassidy Triska laced a rocket to deep center field to put the cherry on top in the resilient victory for head coach Chris Foye's slot to put FDU back in the win column after dropping the first two games of the series.

"This is our biggest conference series to date," remarked Foye at practice Thursday. "Saint Francis comes in as the number one team in the standings and we are still holding on to a playoff spot. We've had a great week of practice and I know  our team will come with a lot of energy and be ready to compete at home in front of a great crowd this weekend."

As Foye mentioned, Saint Francis U leads the nine-time NEC softball standings, sitting with a record of 27-14 (13-2 NEC) ahead of Mount St. Mary's and FDU who sits in third. Wagner, tied with FDU at a 9-6 league record, rounds out the playoff picture as of April 21. The Red Flash dropped the first game of their series with the Mount earlier this week, coming back to sweep the next two. SFU's two NEC losses this season have come at the hands of Bryant way back on April 3 and the Mount.

Following the matchup with Saint Francis U, FDU faces one final non-conference opponent in Saint Peter's on the road next Thursday before returning home for LIU on April 30 and May 1. The Knights close the regular season at Wagner, awaiting their postseason fait.

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