HACKENSACK, N.J. – FDU softball (22-21, 12-6) dropped the rubber match of their weekend series against Le Moyne (13-24, 5-10) by a score of 1-0 on Saturday. The Knights celebrated Senior Day in Hackensack, with five Knight seniors being honored in a pre-game ceremony;
Julia Swan,
Isabella Herring,
Sydney Newton,
Hayden Salter, and
Angela Costa.
The Knights also celebrated Little League Day presented by Greater Alliance on Saturday.
The game was a pitchers' duel in every sense of the word. The Knights sent their senior Swan out to start against Le Moyne's Neveah Ross. Swan turned in a short, but solid outing, giving the Knights 2.1 innings of one-hit, one-run ball. The lone Le Moyne run scored on a wild pitch in the third inning. Swan was relived by
Brooklyn Shroyer, who shut down the Dolphins in relief. Shroyer twirled 4.2 innings of one-hit shutout ball, striking out eight Le Moyne batters in the process.
Unfortunately for FDU, they simply could not scratch a run across against Le Moyne's Ross. Ross, who shut down the Knights in game two of Friday's doubleheader, threw a complete-game shutout, allowing just four FDU hits.
The Knights made it close at the end.
Rebecca Merkes led off the seventh inning with a single to left field. She was pinch ran for by
Mikayla Conklin, who advanced all the way to third base on consecutive groundouts.
With the tying run at third base,
Madison Rishel came up to the plate with two outs, looking to extend the game. Rishel put up a terrific at-bat, fouling off several offerings from Ross. Down to her final strike, she unloaded on a hard-hit line drive towards left field. Le Moyne's Shannon Gavigan leaped into the air, and made a heroic play, snagging the ball before it dropped in for a base-hit, ending the game in heartbreaking fashion.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Knights will host Saint Peter's for a mid-week doubleheader on Wednesday. First pitch will come at 5:00 p.m, with coverage on NEC Front Row.
Connect with FDU softball on Twitter and Instagram, @FDUKnightsSB.
Kai-Zen Fitness is the presenting sponsor for the 2025 FDU Softball season.
