CLERMONT, Fla. (March 14, 2018) - The FDU softball team knocked off Bethany 1-0 before coming back to top Mount St. Joseph 5-4 Wednesday morning.

FDU-Florham 1, Bethany 0

The Bison threatened in the second, loading the bases with two outs. Freshman Abbey Scarengelli was able to escape the jam, getting the Bethany hitter with a called third strike. 

The Devils, who didn't record their first hit until the fourth, had a chance in the fourth inning to take a lead. Freshman Taylor Tobey led off with a single to left-center, and moved to third on a stolen base and wild pitch. The rookie was stranded at third as the next hitters were retired.

FDU once again had a scoring opportunity in the fifth, as freshman Nicole Casale led off with a single to center. Pinch-runner Dani Sames stole second, and sophomore Annamarie Santangelo worked a two-out walk. The Bison ended the inning by getting a comebacker to the mound.

The Devils finally broke through with an unearned tally in the sixth. Tobey reached on an error and swiped second. Sophomore Gabby Young struck out, but the pitch was in the dirt, forcing the catcher to throw down to first. The throw went wide, allowing Tobey to score from second.

In their final at-bat, Bethany put runners on second and third with one out after a sacrifice bunt. The next hitter lined a ball right at Santangelo who made the catch and fired into second. Young stretched out and caught the ball, beating the runner back for a game-ending double play.

Scarengelli allowed eight hits and two walks while striking out four in her first career complete game.

FDU-Florham 5, Mount St. Joseph 4

The Lions drew first blood in the top of the second inning. After a Brandy Bunch double, the next batter fouled out, advancing to third base. Bunch came home to score on a bloop double to center. Mount St. Joseph added to their lead in the third, scoring three times in the frame.

The Devils whittled the lead down in the fourth, scoring three times of their own. Senior Michelle Mangini led off with a four-pitch walk and moved to second on a sacrifice by Sames. After advancing on a wild pitch, freshman Francesca Shipe singled for her first career hit, scoring Mangini. 

Sophomore Kaylee Fish reached on an error, and Scarengelli walked to load the bases. Young came up and drew a walk, and senior Taylor Torre cut the gap to one with an RBI knock up the middle. The Devils evened the score in the fifth, as sophomore Tara Morash dunked a single down the left field line, plating Shipe.

FDU completed the comeback in the bottom of the sixth, starting with Torre reaching on a one-out walk. After advancing to second on a groundout, Mangini hit a ball to the shortstop that was booted. Torre scamped home scoring the go-ahead run.

Staked to a one-run lead, freshman Linda Rizzo went 1-2-3 in the seventh. Senior Rebecca DeCarlo made a leaping catch to make the first out of the inning, protecting the win.

Mangini reached base in every at-bat, while Shipe and Torre each notched a pair of hits. Rizzo earned the win, allowing one hit in four innings of relief.