HACKENSACK, N.J. - Fairleigh Dickinson softball was unable to comeback Sunday after a first inning run scored by the Red Flash as the Knights (19-20, 11-7 NEC) fell to Saint Francis U (Pa.) 3-1. After sweeping Saturday's doubleheader, the Knights secured the series victory over the Red Flash in NEC play, handing SFU their first series loss since 2019 (April 13 vs. Sacred Heart).
Allowing a double to the Red Flash's leadoff batter Mekenzie Saban, FDU was in trouble early. With Jordan Pietrzykoski, Saban was able to steal third though Pietrzkoski would fly out to left, not deep enough for Saban to score via a possible sacrifice fly. Lindsay Ward, the three batter in the SFU lineup, would be able to get the job done for the visitors in the first and sacrifice her at bat to senior center fielder
Courtney Mahoney who made the putout, though Saban would score the opening run of the game.
Junior shortstop
Cassidy Triska would lead things off for the Knights and record a base hit in the bottom half of the first. The Murrieta, Calif. product went 3-for-3 in Sunday's game and extended her current hit steak to five-consecutive games. Triska also recorded her 16th game on the season of recording more then one hit (second game tallying three hits). Additionally, she has reached base safely in each of her last 10 games. Getting the Knights on the board in the fifth, Triska would single to score
Riley De Laval who started in left for the Burgundy and Blue, though not before SFU would score their second run of the game in the prior inning (fourth) following a walk surrendered by senior southpaw
Alayna Savaglio with the bases juiced.
Moving to the sixth inning Savaglio would walk in another run to make it 3-1. The Middletown, N.Y. native through her 12th complete game of the season, allowing six hits, seven walks and four strikeouts in the process.
FDU hits the road one final time in non-conference play on Thursday, April 28 when the club heads to senior
Jillian Ward's hometown of Jersey City, N.J. for a doubleheader with Saint Peter's. The two sides met earlier in the campaign on the banks of the Hackensack with FDU sweeping the twin bill back on March 31.
Chris Foye's Knights return home for a three-game series with LIU on April 30 and May 1 to conclude the home slate in the regular season. The Knights will celebrate Senior Day prior to the 1 p.m. game on Saturday, April 30. FDU's regular season ends the following weekend at Wagner.
