MADISON, N.J. (April 2, 2019) – A six-run sixth inning in game two propelled the FDU-Florham softball to a 7-2 win to help the Devils split with Hunter College Tuesday.

The Devils, who dropped the first game 2-0, move to 4-14 with the split while Hunter is now 7-4.

GAME 1: Hunter 2, FDU-Florham 0
The Hawks did their damage in the first two frames, scoring once in each inning. In the first, the Hawks only plated one, but freshman Ciara Hoffman struck out the final two batters to retire the side. Hunter notched an unearned tally in the second for the only two runs of the game.

Hoffman escaped a first and second two-out jam in the third by getting a swinging third strike to end the inning. The Hawks threatened in the fourth, but junior Megan Zaccario notched a strikeout to close out the frame. The Devils, who only had one hit through three innings, looked to find a run in the home half of the fourth. Junior Gabby Young led off with a single before moving to third on a stolen base and a groundout. The team was unable to push a run across, as the next two batters were set back.

Zaccario retired the first eight hitters she faced before running into trouble in the seventh. The Hawks led off with consecutive singles, but the Devils turned a 5-4 double-play for the first two outs. The junior Zaccario got fanned the final hitter she faced in the seventh, giving the Devils one last chance to equalize. Despite a single by sophomore Nicole Casale, a fly out to centerfield ended game one.

GAME 2: FDU-Florham 7, Hunter 2
The Hawks struck first game two, scoring on a two-out single to center. The damage could've been worse, but rookie Morgan DeLoreto gunned out a runner trying to steal second to close out the first inning. Zaccario earned the start in the nightcap and went 1-2-3 in the second, fanning the final two hitters.

Hunter loaded the bags in the third, but a groundout to third base kept the deficit at one run. With two outs in the third, FDU put runners on first and third and was close to tying the contest. Young reached on an error before junior Tara Morash stroked a single to left. The Devils inning was finished off with a fly ball to right, retiring the side.

After the Hawks extended their lead in the fourth, the Devils were finally able to break through in the fifth. Junior Annamarie Santangelo reached on a one-out fielder's choice before Tobey smacked a triple into right-center field to trim the gap in half at 2-1. Sophomore Kaleigh Oplinger came entered in relief, allowing just one hit in the sixth to set up the Devils comeback.

Casale led off with a double to right-center before rookie Dana Giardina single into center, putting runners on the corners. Senior Courtney Rohde dropped down a perfect bunt, and Hunter was unable to find an out, loading the bases. Freshman Morgan DeLoreto delivered a fly ball to center field, scoring pinch-runner Caitie Horn to tie things at two. Rohde stole second before freshman Cierra Colon started a string of three straight singles to give FDU their first lead of the day. Colon, Tobey, and Young all had RBI knocks before Tobey scampered home on a wild pitch. Morash capped the off scoring with a run-scoring groundout. 

Hunter's leadoff hitter in the seventh singled, but a heads up play by Rohde led to a double-play. Rohde fielded the grounder, stepped on first before firing to Giardina Giardina slapped the tag on the runner for 3-6 double-play to bring the Hawks down to their final out. Rohde snared a line-drive to close out the victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
•    Young went 4-for-7 with four stolen bases over the games while adding an RBI and a run scored.
•    Over 7 2/3 innings, Zaccario allowed just six hits and two earned runs while striking out 10. In the opener, she struck out six which was one off of her career-high.
•    Colon recorded the first RBI of her career in the nightcap.
•    Tobey was perfect 3-for-3 in the second game and drove in her first two runs of the season.
•    The team struck out a season-high 12 batters in the opener.

UP NEXT
The Devils will host the College of Mt. St. Vincent in a doubleheader tomorrow starting at 3 p.m.