MADISON, N.J. (March 4, 2018) - The FDU softball team dropped a pair of games to NYU in the season-opening series for both sides Sunday afternoon.
The Devils, who were supposed to open road with games against NYU and Staten Island, had the games NYU moved to McManus Field due to the weather on Friday night.
GAME 1: NYU 3, FDU 1
Neither side was able to muster much offense in the opener, scoring just four runs. FDU struck first blood in the home half of the second inning. With senior
Michelle Mangini in scoring position, sophomore
Tara Morash singled and moved the senior to third. Senior Frannie Jarin flied out, scoring Mangini for a sacrifice fly.
Freshman Kaleigh Oplinger made her first collegiate start and kept NYU off the board for the first four innings, allowing four hits over that time. Oplinger ran into trouble in the sixth, with NYU scoring a trio of runs. Two of the runs were unearned, as they came off of errors.
The Devils looked to make the comeback, loading bases in the bottom of the sixth. Senior
Taylor Torre reached on an error, junior
Courtney Rohde singled and Mangini reached on an error. But the next two batters, coupled with a double-play, ended the rally. FDU would quietly in the seventh as NYU escaped with a 3-1 win.
Sophomore
Gabby Young led the Devils with a pair of hits, including a double, in game one.
GAME 2: NYU 4, FDU 1
A pitcher's duel ensued in game two, with
Linda Rizzo of FDU and Cassi Parulis matching zeros over the first four frames. The Violets finally broke through with a pair of runs in the fifth courtesy of a one-out rally.
After FDU and NYU both didn't score after putting runners on in the bottom of the fifth and top of the sixth respectively, FDU was able to cut the lead in half during their at bat in the sixth. Young singled and swiped second, before Torre stepped up and doubled, plating the sophomore.
NYU tacked on a pair in the seventh, thanks to a two-run homer by Diana King. The Devils put the tying run on deck in the seventh, but were unable to get the batter to plate, as the next three hitters were retired in order.
FDU will hit the road on Tuesday, traveling to Kean to battle the Cougars in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.
