JERSEY CITY, N.J. - Fairleigh Dickinson softball completed the four-game season sweep of Saint Peter's Thursday at Joseph J. Jaroschak Field in Jersey City, marking 18-straight victories for the Knights over the Peacocks.

The Knights exploded for 13 hits in the first game of the day, getting started early in the first inning. Two-time Northeast Conference Player of the Week Cassidy Triska got things started in the leadoff spot as she singled in the opening at-bat on a slow-rolling bunt to the Peacocks' first baseman. Getting moved to second by center fielder senior Courtney Mahoney on a ground ball to short, Triska was the first Knights' runner in scoring position, crossing home in the following play on an RBI double by four-time NEC Rookie of the Year Jess DeWitt who made her 39th start of the season in the opening game to put FDU up 1-0 early on.

Chris Foye's squad turned to freshman Julia Swan to pitch the first game of the day in the Sixth Borough. Swan retired the first two batters she faced before allowing a hit in the three-spot, getting out of the inning with a strikeout, her first of the day. Moving to the second inning, FDU's bats continued to stay hot with sophomore right fielder Megan Berg reaching first following a walk, later stealing second. Berg would score the Knights' second run of the game off a Sydney Newton double after advancing to third following a single by third baseman Jillian Ward who hails from Jersey City to extend the Knights' lead to 2-0.

With Newton and Ward on base, Triska blasted her 11th home run of the season for three RBIs to make it a 5-0 ballgame. Swan would get her first 1-2-3 inning, retiring the side in the third as the game progressed rather quickly. Newton would kick-off the following frame with a stand-up triple, cruising home following an RBI double by Triska who would pace the Knights with four runs batted in on the day. Up 6-0, DeWitt would hit into a fielder's choice to score the Murrieta, Calif. native Triska as the Knights got the extra point to go up 7-0 on Saint Peter's.

FDU would give up two runs in the bottom of the inning (unearned), which would be all of the damage allowed in the ballgame. Following the fourth, FDU would turn to the bullpen bringing in another freshman in Payton Wagner who would record her second save of the season while Swan would finish with four hits, two unearned runs and two strikeouts en route to sixth win of the campaign. Not done with the scoring affair in the opener, Mahoney would keep the rally going with an RBI double in the fifth to score Triska making it 8-0 in favor of the Burgundy and Blue.

Savannah Thornell would bat-in the final run of the ballgame for either side with a single to right scoring Sabrina Javorsky.

Recording a single, double and home run, Triska was just a triple away from hitting for the cycle while Newton needed only a home run to attain the achievement.

In the nightcap, FDU started newcomer Mia Faieta in the circle, the second start of the season for the junior from nearby Cedar Grove. Getting off to a slow start, the Knights would record only two hits combined in each of the first two innings, though Saint Peter's would break open the scoring in the bottom of the second, putting up a four-spot.

Triska would start the Knights' comeback in the third inning with a double to right center. She would score following a double to right off the bat of San Diego, Calif. native DeWitt. The play advanced Mahoney to third as she previously reached base safely with a single. The Allenwood, N.J. product scored the Knights' second run of the game following a single by rookie Andreya Flores who made the start at catcher after serving as designated player in game one. Trailing 4-2, Hailey Ramberg stepped up to the plate, belting a single up the middle to score DeWitt and bring FDU within one.

The home Peacocks would answer back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning, once again opening the lead, this time to 6-3. Flores would record her second RBI of the game in the fifth inning with a double to score DeWitt, bringing FDU within two. Triska would crush her second homer of the day in the following frame to cut the lead down to one run.

Down one heading into the final inning of play, freshman Angela Costa hit in Ward to tie the ballgame at six runs all. For Costa the RBI was the sixth of her career. Fellow rookie Hayden Salter would tap in Costa in the game-winning run to lift FDU to a 7-6 victory over Saint Peters. 

The Burgundy and Blue used a trifecta of arms in the game, moving to Wagner and Savaglio who pitched herself into her 11th victory of the season. The Middletown, N.Y. product Savaglio allowed just three hits in four innings of work, striking out seven while walking one in 16 batters faced.

Following the nightcap, Foye commented, "I am so proud of this team for battling back in the second game after getting down 4-0. Our bats were hot today and our pitching kept us in the game. We have some things to work on in practice tomorrow but I feel our team is in a great mindset coming into a big conference weekend after two great wins today."

FDU returns home for the final time in the regular season this weekend with a three-game series against LIU beginning on Saturday, April 30 with a doubleheader at FDU Softball Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m., followed by a 3 p.m. second game. Prior to the series opener FDU will recognize the program's four seniors in a pregame ceremony that will air live on NEC Front Row along with each game in the set. The series finale is scheduled to come on Sunday, May 1 at 12 p.m. The Knights close-out play in the regular season next weekend with an NEC series at Wagner.