MADISON, N.J. – There was no shortage in power as the Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham softball team hit a combined nine home runs in a pair of non-conference victories over Stevens Institute of Technology on Thursday afternoon at McManus Field.

Game 1 (FDU-Florham 17, Stevens 16)

The opening game of the series featured a huge power surge from the Devils' offense as the team was able to hit five home runs and grab a  thrilling17-16 win over the visiting Ducks.

All nine hitters that started the game for FDU-Florham recorded a hit in the contest. Sophomore Marlena Bevilacqua set the tone at the leadoff spot for the Devils by going 3-for-5 at the plate with three runs scored, an RBI and three stolen bases.

Junior Paige Lillie also went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and she added four RBIs, while senior Nikki Caruso picked up three hits in her four at-bats with two runs scored and four RBIs as well. Sophomore Taylor Torre batted 2-for-4 with three runs scored and two solo home runs.

In the first inning of play Bevilacqua got things started with a single and after she stole second, she came around to score once Lillie lifted the ball over the left field fence for a two-run shot. Caruso then came up and shot a single up the middle and she later scored on a Wynne McCann two-run home run to right-center.

The Devils added one more run in the inning on a Jaclyn Herrington RBI single through the left side to put FDU-Florham up 5-0.

After the Ducks plated a pair of runs in the top half of the third, the Devils came up to bat and Torre led off with a solo shot to center field. FDU-Florham put three more runs on the board in the inning to grab a 10-2 lead.

Stevens began to chip away in the fourth and scored five runs to cut the deficit to three. However, the Devils responded immediately in the bottom half of the inning with another Torre solo home run. One more run crossed the plate for the Devils in the inning on a Bevilacqua RBI single up the middle.

Following a four-run fifth inning and a five-run sixth, the Ducks came all the way back and took their first lead of the afternoon.

Trailing 16-12, the Devils bats continued to rock in the final inning of play. Bevilacqua led off with a double to left field and after she stole third and Lillie singled, Caruso brought them both in to score with a three-run blast to left field.

The Devils loaded the bases up with no outs in the inning and the game was tied once Rebecca DeCarlo drew a base on balls. Two batters later, the Devils won in walk-off fashion as Torre scored the game-winning run on a bases loaded walk by Michelle Mangini. 

Game 2 (FDU-Florham 10, Stevens 5) (5 Innings)

There was no drop off in power for the Devils' offense as they continued to heat up and hit four home runs in the 10-5 win over the Ducks in the second game of the series.

Torre was electric at the plate once again, batting a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs scored, three RBIs and notching a pair of solo home runs. Caruso also tallied a multi-hit game as she went 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Through the first inning of action the Devils found themselves down 2-0. They were able to battle back though and Torre got things started in the bottom half of the second with a solo home run to center field. FDU-Florham added another run in the inning to knot the game up at 2-2.

In the bottom half of the third, Lillie was awarded first base after she was hit by a pitch to start off the inning. The Devils then hit three consecutive singles and Lillie scored. Freshman Courtney Rhode stepped into the batter's box with the bases loaded and she drew a base on balls to drive in another run.

After plating one more run in the inning, Mangini was up at bat and she reared back, located the ball and crushed a two-run home run over the fence to put FDU-Florham up 8-2.

The six-run lead was extended to eight once Lillie and Torre homered in the fourth inning.

Despite three runs crossing the plate for the Ducks in the fifth inning, the game was called due to darkness and the Devils picked up the victory.

The Devils will be back on the field on Saturday, April 16 for a MAC Freedom doubleheader series with DeSales University at McManus Field. Game one is slated for noon.