DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (March 24, 2019) – Freshman Ciara Hoffman struck out six in the opener as the FDU-Florham softball team picked up a 4-1 win over Delaware Valley University before falling 8-2 in the nightcap Sunday afternoon.

GAME 1: FDU-Florham 4, Delaware Valley 1
Hoffman retired six of the first hitters she faced, allowing just one walk over the opening the frames. FDU put runners on base in the second and third stanzas but were unable to push a run across. The Aggies struck first in the third, scoring on an RBI single to centerfield to take the 1-0 lead after three.

Sophomore Nicole Casale led off the fourth with a single to left and moved to third on a single through the box by junior Tara Morash. The Devils took the lead for good two batters later, as freshman Colleen Conway doubled in both runners with a shot to left-center field.

Staked to the 2-1 lead, Hoffman retired the six in a row before the Devils tacked on insurance runs in each of the final two innings. Sophomore Dani Sames singled through the left side with one down before moving into scoring position on a passed ball. Morash moved Sames into scoring position with a single up the middle. Sames came in to score on a fielder's choice grounder by senior Courtney Rohde.

The Aggies threatened in the home half of the sixth, as a pair of singles placed runners on first and second with just one out. Hoffman retired the side with a fly out and a ground ball to first base. The Devils closed out the scoring in the seventh, as sophomore Francesca Shipe single in junior Gabby Young who had led off with a single. The rookie Hoffman set the Aggies down 1-2-3 in the final inning, ending the game with a strikeout on a 3-2 pitch.

GAME 2: Delaware Valley 8, FDU-Florham 2
The Devils looked to strike first in the opening inning, as Young and junior Annamarie Santangelo led off the game with walks. The next three hitters were retired, keeping the Devils off the scoreboard. Sophomore Kaleigh Oplinger got the start in game two, needing just six pitches to work a perfect 1-2-3 first inning.

Delaware Valley exploded for six runs on four hits in the second, all of which were unearned tallies. The big blow was a grand slam with two outs in the frame. Oplinger settled down, retiring all three hitters faced in the third in just five pitches before chipping away at the lead in the fourth. Sames led off with a double and advanced to third on a groundout by Morash. Rohde knocked in Sames with a run-scoring groundout to second base.

The host Aggies added the final two tallies in the home half of the fourth. With two outs, Delaware Valley took advantage of a fielding miscue to score the final two runs. FDU got more run back in the fifth, with Shipe driving in a run with a groundout. Young and Santangelo collected hits with one out before Shipe delivered the RBI groundout.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
•    Conway collected the first two RBI's of her career and batted .500 (3-for-6) over the two games.
•    Sames and Morash each posted two hits in the opener with a run scored.
•    Hoffman surrendered just four hits and two walks to go along with the six strikeouts.
•    Young was a perfect 3-for-3 in the game to go along with a walk and two stolen bases.

UP NEXT
The Devils welcome Centenary to McManus Field on Tuesday, taking on the Cyclones in a doubleheader at 3 and 5 p.m.