MADISON, N.J. (April 27, 2019) – Sophomore
Dani Sames delivered a walk-off single in game one as the FDU-Florham softball team split with Wilkes University, winning 2-1 and losing 9-1 Saturday.
FDU ends the season with a 15-19-1 mark overall, including a 6-8 Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom mark. Wilkes is now 25-13, 7-7 in the conference.
GAME 1: FDU-Florham 2, Wilkes 1
The Devils fell behind after a Colonels' lead-off home run on the third pitch of the afternoon. The Devils nearly tied it in the bottom of the first after an infield single by junior
Gabby Young, followed by a stolen base by Young. Junior
Tara Morash advanced Young to third on her single. The Devils, however, were unable to capitalize and bring in the tying run. Sophomore
Kaleigh Oplinger bounced back after the lead-off home run, allowing only three more hits over six shutout innings.
The game was dominated by both starters until the bottom of the seventh when the Devils started to threaten. Pinch-hitter sophomore
Hunter Ruppel led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch. Young advanced Ruppel to second with a single to left to give the Devils first and second with only one out. A sacrifice bunt by Morash moved the runners into scoring position. Sames fell behind 0-2 but was able to deliver a liner to left field which the Colonels defender was unable to come up the diving catch to save the game. Both Ruppel and Young scored to give the Devils the walk-off victory.
GAME 2: Wilkes 9, FDU-Florham 1
The Devils fell behind early again in game two, allowing four Colonels to score in the top of the first. All four runs that were scored were unearned. FDU found themselves with bases loaded no out situation in the bottom of the second after singles by senior
Courtney Rohde, freshman
Emma Gaffney, and sophomore
Francesca Shipe. With two outs, sophomore
Taylor Tobey was able to bring in a run on an infield hit to the shortstop to make it 4-1.
Unfortunately, this was the lone run the Devils were able to score in the half inning. The Colonels responded with three runs, in the top of the third to make it 7-1. The Colonels tacked on the final tallies of the game in the top of the sixth, as they scored two runs on three hits. FDU put one runner on base in the final at-bat but were unable to score.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Young stole a base in each contest, moving into second place all-time in career steals.
• Sames' walk-off hit was the third by the Devils this season, joining Shipe and Tobey.
• Oplinger tossed a four-hitter in the opener, allowing just the one run with two strikeouts.
• In her final game in a Devils uniform, Rohde collected one last hit. She closes out her career with 102 career hits, including 23 doubles and four home runs.
