WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – Behind a dominant complete-game shutout from senior pitcher Sydney Worek, the Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham softball team was able to claw past the Misericordia University Cougars 4-0 in the first round of the MAC Freedom Tournament on Saturday afternoon.

Worek struck out 10 batters and only allowed three hits in the Devils' win over Misericordia. FDU-Florham received a strong contribution at the plate from junior Paige Lillie, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored.

In the first inning of play the Devils had two runners on base after sophomore speedster Marlena Bevilacqua was hit by a pitch and Lillie singled. However, the Cougars were able to prevent any runs from scoring.

As Worek silenced the Cougars' bats, the Devils went to work on the offensive end. In the top of the fifth Bevilacqua reached on a fielder's choice and stole second to get into scoring position. Lillie was due up next and she shot an RBI single into right field and Bevilacqua came in to score.

The Devils held onto the one-run lead heading into the final inning of play. After the first two batters were retired, sophomore Michelle Mangini reached on a costly fielding error by a Cougars' infielder. Following back-to-back singles from Bevilacqua and Lille, the Devils took a two-run lead.

With two runners on, the MAC Freedom Player of the Year, Nikki Caruso came up and blasted a two-RBI double down the left field line to put the Devils up by four.

Misericordia managed to get a pair of runners on base in the bottom half of the seventh but Worek successfully worked out of the jam and the Devils claimed the 4-0 victory over the Cougars in the opening round of the conference tournament.