FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (March 11, 2019) – The FDU-Florham softball team was edged 4-3 and 3-2 by host Methodist University Monday afternoon.
GAME 1: Methodist 4, FDU-Florham 3 (Eight innings)
FDU plated a run in their first at-bat, using a little small ball. Junior
Gabby Young led off the game with a walk and promptly swiped second. After moving to third on a wild pitch, senior
Courtney Rohde knocked in Young with a single back through the box.
The host Mustangs answered back in their opening at-bat, scoring on a fielder's choice without registering a hit. The score would remain 1-1 until the bottom of the sixth, but both sides had runners on base in the middle innings. FDU surrendered a leadoff double in the third, but sophomore
Abbey Scarengelli escaped as a runner was gunned down at home plate to end the inning.
Scarengelli ran into trouble again in the fifth as the Mustangs loaded the bases with one out. The sophomore once again got out of the jam, getting a pair of fielder's choices to end the inning. She was aided by a great play by sophomore
Dani Sames who forced a runner at home with one out.
The hosts took the lead in the sixth, scoring on a wild pitch. FDU battled back, taking a 3-2 lead in the seventh. Junior
Annamarie Santangelo led off with an infield hit and moved to second on a bunt by classmate
Tara Morash. Young bunted for a single to put runners on the corners and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice by sophomore
Taylor Tobey. Sophomore
Francesca Shipe had the big hit, a two-run single up the middle which gave the team the lead.
The Mustangs would deliver a walk-off single in the home half of the seventh. A single with runners on the corners leveled the game at three, before a single to left drove in the winning run.
GAME 2: Methodist 3, FDU-Florham 2
FDU put two runners on base in the top of the first but were unable to push a runner across home. Freshman
Ciara Hoffman ran into trouble in the home half of the first, putting runners on second and third with one out. The rookie induced a strikeout and pop up to end the frame.
Sames led off the second with a walk and moved to third a bunt by freshman
Morgan DeLoreto. Santangelo knocked in Sames with a run-scoring groundout to shortstop. With one out in the second, Hoffman got a 6-4-3 double-play to end the inning.
The Mustangs evened the game at one in the third, but the Devils quickly responded in the fourth. With two down, Santangelo and Morash singled while Young walked to load the bases. On a passed ball, Santangelo scampered home to give the Devils the one-run edge.
Hoffman set Methodist down in order in the fourth, but two walks and a single loaded the bags with one out in the fifth. The rookie bore down, getting two fly outs to end the inning. FDU threatened in the sixth, as Sames led off with a walk. After a walk and a sac bunt moved her to third, Methodist got a pop out to end the frame as the Devils held the one-run lead.
Junior
Megan Zaccario entered in relief in the sixth and worked a perfect 1-2-3 inning. The Mustangs tallied an unearned run in the seventh, as a fielding error brought home the tying run. The Devils had the go-ahead run on third in the eighth with no outs, but couldn't scratch a run home. A bunt single in the home half of the eighth scored the winning run as Methodist completed the sweep.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Shipe went 4-for-7 with two RBI's in the doubleheader. The sophomore collected three hits in the opener.
• Santangelo and Young each crossed the plate twice throughout the two games.
• In her collegiate debut, Hoffman fanned three. In the two games, the pitching staff combined for seven punchouts.
UP NEXT
The Devils will play Fayetteville Technical Community College in a developmental doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. tomorrow. The team will then head to Misenheimer, N.C. Wednesday and Thursday to take on Pfeiffer University. In the only previous meeting between the two schools, Pfeiffer earned a 2-1 win in the ECAC Tournament last year.
