NORFOLK, VA. – FDU softball wrapped up their weekend at the Spartan Round Up hosted by Norfolk State. The Knights split a double-header on Saturday, followed by a win over Norfolk State on Sunday afternoon.
FDU started Saturday off by facing North Dakota. The Knights sent
Jamie Sencion out into the circle to start the day off. Sencion was hit early by the Fighting Hawks, giving up a two-run home run to Taya Hopfouf in the first inning. After the long ball, Sencion began to settle in. FDU got on the board in the third.
Brianna Holguin worked a walk with the bases loaded to bring in a run. However, the Knights were unable to capitalize further on the bases-loaded situation. FDU trailed 3-1 heading into the sixth inning, when North Dakota found the long ball again. Chloe Bethune hit a solo shot to extend the lead to 4-1 for North Dakota. Then in the seventh inning, Hopfauf went deep again, hitting another two-run shot to give North Dakota a 6-1 lead.
Looking to bounce back from the early loss, FDU sent
Madison Dollard out into the circle to face the tournament hosts in Norfolk State. Dollard got immediate run support from her offense, as
Jordyn Hemingway laced an RBI double to left field in the first inning. Handed an early lead, Dollard went out into the circle and proceeded to dominate. The sophomore shut down the Spartan lineup, blanking them through the first five innings. The Knights' starter got more run support in the fourth inning after a Knights rally.
Mikayla Conklin drove in a run on an RBI single, and
Madison Rishel hit into an RBI groundout, extending the FDU lead to 3-0. The lone blemish on Dollard's stat-line was an RBI single given up in the sixth inning. Dollard would wind up going the distance, hurling her first career complete game. The sophomore struck out nine on the afternoon, allowing just three hits and three walks in the process.
FDU looked to build off their momentum from Saturday in a Sunday afternoon re-match with Norfolk State. FDU again jumped out to an early lead against the Spartans, as
Ayden Stone reached on an error in the first inning to drive in a run. The Knights offense continued to find a groove, as they put together a five-run third inning to build on the lead.
Brianna Holguin added an RBI single in the fourth inning to make it a 7-0 lead for FDU. Norfolk State started to wake up in the fourth inning, hitting two home runs off FDU starter
Sierra Albright to cut the Knights' lead to 7-3. Norfolk State added another run in the sixth inning. As the seventh inning began, Norfolk State put tremendous pressure on FDU. Three straight singles by the Spartans loaded up the bases, putting the winning run at the plate with no outs. Head coach
Chris Foye handed things to freshman
Katie Simonka out of the bullpen to try and escape danger. Simonka induced a fielder's choice, picking up an out but allowing a run to score. During the next at-bat, Norfolk State's Aniyah Michalak stole home, making it a 7-6 game. With one out and the tying run on second base, Simonka beared down. The freshman induced a ground out, and then picked up a swinging strike out to strand the tying run and give FDU the win. Simonka picked up her first career save in the process.
FDU will head to Stony Brook to play a mid-week doubleheader on Tuesday, March 10. First pitch in Stony Brook, N.Y. will be at 2 p.m, with coverage on FloCollege.
