Live Stats |
NEC Front Row HACKENSACK, N.J. – The final weekend of Northeast Conference regular season action sees the Fairleigh Dickinson softball team (13-17, 7-5 NEC) hosting doubleheaders against Robert Morris (22-18, 10-0 NEC) and Sacred Heart (12-25, 4-8 NEC), starting with the NEC-leading Colonials on Saturday, April 25, at 1 p.m.
Sunday's contest against the Pioneers will also be Senior Day. Five Knights will be honored.
NEC Front Row will carry live coverage of both days and can be accessed via the link above.
Knights Food Drive - In an effort to give back to the community that they call home during the school year, the FDU Knights Softball team will be kicking off their
Second Annual Food Drive this month and are asking their friends, families and fans to help them
"Knock Hunger Out of the Park" by donating non-perishable food items. A collection bin will be located near the Knights' bleachers at all home games throughout the season. Last year the team collected and delivered over 300 pounds of food to Helping Hands, a Teaneck food pantry, and an anonymous donation of $500 was made on their behalf to a national food bank. This year, with the help of their fans, the team hopes to collect 500 pounds of food. Out of town supporters are encouraged to make donations in the form of gift cards to local supermarkets. Gift cards can be mailed to the FDU softball Office. The Knights thank you for helping them
"Strike Out Hunger" in their community!
Last Time OutThe Knights traveled to local rival Saint Peter's in Jersey City and swept the Peacocks, 13-6 and 4-0. In game one, the hosts found themselves up 3-1 after the second inning but
Madison Lerma (Escondido, Calif./Escondido) tied the game up with a two-run blast in the third frame. The Knights took the lead, 6-3, on a RBI single from Lerma and a two-run single by
Cheryl Lopez (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville). Saint Peter's rallied and tallied three runs over the next two innings and the game would eventually go to extra innings.
Madelaine Wilen (Bakerfield, Calif./Ridgeview High School)'s RBI double proved to be the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth and the visitors tacked on another six runs as well.
Megan Reiner (Los Angeles, Calif./John Marshall) was sensational in game two with a complete game shutout, her program record fifth of the season, allowing just four hits and one walk, while striking out a career-best 14.
Bryana Dorado (Oxnard, Calif./Oxnard)'s RBI single was the eventual game winner and Lerma blasted her seventh long ball to put the game out of reach.
FDU sits in lone possession of fourth place in the conference standings at 7-5, just two games above LIU Brooklyn and Bryant with several games to go.
Robert Morris2015 Season: 22-18 (10-0 NEC)
Where: Hackensack, N.J. (FDU Softball Field)
When: April 25, 2015 - 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
What You Need To Know: The Colonials boast one of the conference's top pitchers in Nicole Sleith and a trio of impact bats in the lineup and have displayed their talent with an undefeated 10-game stretch to open up NEC play. Sleith, a senior, is 18-8 on the season with 24 complete games and a 1.47 era. Incredibly, in 172 innings she has struck out 229 opposing hitters, while walking just 40. In the lineup, the trio of Jordan Gurganus, Ashley Gerhart, and Kristen Gabelt are all batting over .375, with the first two hitting .396 and .394, respectively, through nearly 40 contests. Interestingly, Gurganus and Gerhart have more triples (3) than doubles (2) this season, but each have crossed home plate at least 25 times. Gabelt paces the team with eight home runs, but it's Tess Apke's 28 rbis that are a team-high. Robert Morris have played 29 games away from Moon Township and are 14-15 in those contests.
Sacred Heart2015 Season: 12-25 (4-8 NEC)
Where: Hackensack, N.J. (FDU Softball Field)
When: April 26, 2015 - 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.
What You Need To Know: The Pioneers started NEC play by going 2-6 and have gone 2-2 since, with both victories coming at home against Wagner. Sacred Heart have two pitchers that split time in the circle, Adrianna Mallory and Kacie Wentworth, with a combined 5-16 record. Mallory, a junior, has been solid with a 3.11 era and 38 strikeouts in 56.1 innings. In the lineup, no regular hits above .267 and there is a nice mix of upper and underclassmen. Kelyn Fillmore paces the team with four long balls but has struggled to a .173 average. Senior Kate Nadler and Justine Sibthorp are batting .267 and .260, respectively, and have combined for five home runs on the season. Nadler leads the team with nine doubles and 14 walks, while Sibthorp is tops with 15 runs scored.
Up NextThe Knights have one final standalone game on Tuesday, April 28, at Monmouth. If FDU makes the top four spots in the standings, they will continue on to the NEC Tournament for a second straight year the weekend after next.
