Box Score PURCHASE, N.Y. – The Manhattanville College Valiants handed the Devils their fourth-straight loss on Thursday afternoon, narrowly edging the FDU-Florham softball team 5-4 at Manhattanville Field.

After trailing 5-0, the Devils (10-7, 4-2 Freedom) rallied back to get within one run, but ultimately were unable to tie the contest. With the win, the Valiants improve to 8-6 overall and 4-0 in the Freedom Conference.

Devils senior shortstop Maggie Murphy (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) went 2-for-3, including a two-run homer in the loss. FDU-Florham sophomore Sydney Worek (Bordentown, N.J./Florence Township) took the loss for the Devils, while Manhattanville senior Alyssa Taylor earned the victory for the Valiants.

Three batters into the bottom of the first inning, the Valiants had claimed a 3-0 lead. After back-to-back singles, Manhattanville freshman Shelbee Damianos launched a three-run home run over the center field fence. The Valiants added an RBI-single in the frame to stake a 4-0 lead after one.

Trailing 5-0 in the top of the third, the Devils' bats sprung to life.  The inning started with a pair of singles by Murphy and Brittni Wurst (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North). Next, FDU-Florham senior Sarah Lima (Stanfordville, N.Y./Pine Plains) delivered an RBI-single to get the Devils on the board, however, Taylor escaped without further damage and the Valiants held a 5-1 lead.

In the top of the fourth inning, Murphy crushed her fourth home run of the season down the left field line, which cut the deficit to two. FDU-Florham sophomore Jenna Appello (Forked River, N.J./Lacey Township) launched a solo blast in the sixth inning but that concluded the scoring for the Devils. Taylor pitched around a one-out single in the seventh inning to preserve the Valiants sixth win in a row.

Wurst finished the day 2-for-4, while sophomore backstop Wynne McCann (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown Area) went 2-for-2 with two walks in the loss.

Manhattanville senior Emily Frawley had a perfect afternoon, going 4-for-4 at the dish with an RBI to lead at 14-hit effort by the Valiants.

Next up for the Devils:
FDU-Florham returns home for a Freedom Conference doubleheader against Misericordia University this Saturday, April 5^th with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.