WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – In a tightly-contested second round MAC Freedom Tournament game, the Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham softball team was defeated 4-3 by the top-seeded Manhattanville College Valiants on Saturday afternoon.
The Devils recorded eight hits in the game and were led by freshman Courtney Rohde, who batted 3-for-3 with a run scored. Junior Paige Lillie also recorded a multi-hit game, picking up a pair of singles.
In the bottom half of the first, the Valiants got things started with a leadoff walk from Sophia Chapelone. Following a sacrifice bunt and a groundout up the middle, Chapelone was on third with two outs. Aarin Hartenstein then came up and shot an RBI double into right-center to give Manhattanville the early 1-0 lead.
The Valiants added to their lead in the third inning once Alicia Marino singled through the left side and came in to score on a Hartenstein two-run homer to center field.
FDU-Florham came up to hit in the fifth and Rohde led things off with a single up the middle. Sophomore Rebecca DeCarlo was then hit by a pitch on the following at-bat and the Devils had two runners on with no outs.
The Valiants managed to retire the next two batters but sophomore Marlena Bevilacqua was able to extend the inning when she reached base safely on a bunt single.
Lillie capitalized on the opportunity and singled up the middle, allowing Rohde to come in to score the Devils' first run of the game. Senior Nikki Caruso then came up and shot a two-RBI single down the left field line to knot the game up at 3-3.
In the sixth inning, both the Devils and Valiants each had a pair of runners on base but failed to do any damage. The Devils had two runners on in the top half of the seventh as well, yet could not get a run in to score.
The Valiants had two outs and the bases were empty in the bottom of the seventh for Chapelone, who came through for Manhattanville by hitting a game-winning solo home run over the fence in center field.
The Devils will return to the field on Sunday, May 8 to square off against the King's College Monarchs in the next round of the MAC Freedom Tournament at 11 a.m.
