NORTH EASTON, Mass. -  As the playoff picture in the Northeast Conference clears up with two weekends to go, FDU softball headed to Stonehill with the Knights needing a sweep of the next to weekends to keep their postseason hopes alive in the NEC. Despite scoring the opening run, FDU fell to Stonehill by a 3-1 final Friday in the series opener, giving the Skyhawks their first NEC win in program history after the Skyhawks began the season 0-15 in NEC play.

With a leadoff single in the first by Cassidy Triska, Chris Foye's Knights were able to place two of their first three batters on-base with Hayden Salter picking up the team's second hit in the following inning. All of the scoring in Friday's game came in the third inning, beginning with Sydney Newton reaching on an error. She would advance on a single by Andreya Flores knocking her to second base. Abbey Hoesman would bring in Newton with another error scoring the sophomore.

Stonehill juiced the bases in the home third, including a steal of the plate for the Skyhawks' second run of the afternoon. Stonehill would have five hits in the bottom of the third inning.

FDU would log just one hit the rest of the go off Hoesman's bat and the side would be retired as the Skyhawks maintained their 3-1 lead to lockdown the historic victory for the newest member of the NEC.

The series concludes tomorrow, April 22, with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.