MORRISTOWN, N.J. – The FDU-Florham softball team pulled out a pair of one-run victories over College of Saint Elizabeth's in non-conference action on Sunday afternoon.
The Devils (10-16) held off late rallies in both contests as the topped the Eagles (8-19) 5-4 in game one before finishing the two-game sweep 7-6 in the finale.
Freshman
Taylor Torre (Matawan, N.J.) led the offense in game one with a 2-for-2 effort, including two RBI and two runs scored, while fellow first-year
Frannie Jarin (Manhawkin, N.J.) delivered the key blow in the game-two win with a two-run single in the final frame.
Brittany Funicelli (Whippany, N.J.) took the circle for the Devils in game one and went the distance, tossing all seven innings, while scattering 11 hits, allowing four runs and striking out five. The freshman pitcher escaped several early jams to keep the Eagles off the board over the first four innings of play.
The Devils broke out for their first run in the top of the third when
Paige Lillie (Mount Laurel, N.J.) plated
Jacquelyn Tartaglia (Island Park, N.Y.) with a sacrifice fly.
After the Eagles scratched out a run in the fourth, the Devils retook the lead with two tallies in their half of the fifth. Torre banked a run with a base hit then
Nikki Caruso (Madison, N.J.) followed with a run-scoring single of her own, which gave the Devils a 3-1 edge.
Leading 3-2 in the top of the seventh, Torre doubled home Tartaglia before a CSE error led to another crucial insurance run.
In their final at bat, the Eagles cut the deficit to one with a two-run blast by
Alyssabel Garcia, however, Funicelli was able to escape without any further damage by getting a fly out and a caught stealing to close out the victory.
Tartgalia, Torre and
Colleen Moriarty (New Rochelle, N.Y.) each recorded multi-hit games in the win.
Game two played out as a near-replica of the opening contest. Garcia delivered a first-inning single, which plated a run and gave the home team an early 1-0 edge.
After two scoreless frames, the Devils answered with a two-spot in the top of the fourth. Torre scored on a wild pitch before
Kailee Sullivan (Monroe, N.Y.) knocked in
Marlena Bevilacqua (East Brunswick, N.J.) with a base hit.
The Devils remained in front 2-1 until the home sixth when Garcia smacked her second blast of the day, this one a two-run shot that put the Eagles in charge 3-2.
FDU-Florham remained undeterred and promptly took the lead in the top of the seventh. Two runs crossed on wild pitches before Jarin came through with a huge two-run single, which put the Devils on top 7-3.
The Eagles refused to go down quietly for the second-straight game as Garcia went deep for a third time with a three-run bomb that pulled the home team within one at 7-6. FDU-Florham freshman right-hander
Audrie Thomas (Belford, N.J.) managed to hold on to the win by retiring the next two batters in order and close out the contest.
Thomas allowed 11 hits, six runs (four earned), struck out three and walked two in her fourth win of the season.
Garcia finished 3-for-4 with five RBI and two runs scored in the loss.
In their next outing, the Devils host New York University for a twinbill this Wednesday, April 22 at 3:00.
