MINNEOLA/CLERMONT, Fla. (March 15, 2017) – The FDU softball team fell to the University of Dallas before topping Westfield State Wednesday.

GAME 1: Dallas 6, FDU 0

Dallas scored three runs in the top of the first inning, courtesy of back-to-back extra base hits. The Devils received three straight singles from freshmen Tara Morash and Gabby Young and senior Paige Lillie to begin the game, but were unable to score. Dallas loaded the bases in the second, and added two more runs, but freshman Megan Zaccario got the next hitters to limit the damage.

Zaccario settled down, allowing just one more run over the next four innings. Freshman Kaylee Fish, who made her first career start, reached base twice while Young touched base three times.

GAME 2: FDU 11, Westfield State 7

After junior Marlena Bevilacqua and Lillie singled to open the first inning, classmate Michelle Mangini delivered a chopper that went over the third basemen's head to score both runners. Westfield State answered with a trio of runs in their half of the first to take a 3-2 advantage.

The Devils strung together three straight hits in the top of the second, as Bevilacqua knocked in runners with a double to right field. Young followed suit with a seeing eye single to left for another RBI hit. The Owls tacked on two in the second and one in the third on a wild pitch to once again take a one-run edge entering the fourth.

FDU exploded for four runs in the fourth, the big blow coming off the bat of sophomore Courtney Rhode. With the bases loaded and a run already in, Rhode belted a double to the wall in right center that cleared the bases. Westfield made the game interesting in the bottom of the seventh, tallying a run and putting runners on second and third with one out, but were unable to push across anymore runs.

Every starter had at least one hit, as freshman Liz Kelly, Young and Bevilacqua each tallied three each. The same duo combined to score five runs, while Mangini and Young each knocked home two runs apiece. Fish started the game; throwing innings while six runs (four earned) and junior Audrie Thomas finished the game, earning her first win.
Thomas tossed four innings, allowing just two hits with two strikeouts.

The Devils wrap up their Florida trip with games against Fredonia and Fitchburg State Thursday.