Madison, NJ (April 15) – The FDU-Florham softball team split its MAC Freedom doubleheader with Lycoming College this afternoon on McManus Field. The Warriors took game one by a score of 3-1 before the Devils held off Lycoming for a 9-7 win in the nightcap.
 
The split leaves FDU's record at 8-10 overall on the season and 4-4 in MAC Freedom play, while Lycoming moves to 6-18 overall and 1-9 in league games.
 
 
Kristen Tigar (Hazlet, NJ) ended the doubleheader with a 4-for-7 showing at the plate with two runs and an RBI, while Kacie Centineo (Waldwick, NJ) went 5-for-7 with a run scored and Kristina Pelano (Howell, NJ) went 3-for-5 with an RBI.

Ciara Hoffman (Freehold, NJ) pitched complete games in both ends of the doubleheader as her record pushed to 6-6 on the year. The senior struck out six batters and worked out of many jams in the circle helping the Devils to the conference split.

Game One: Lycoming 3, FDU 1
 
After a scoreless first inning, Lycoming struck for three runs in the top of the second. The Warriors used a single, a walk and a two run double by Avery Eiswerth for a 2-0 edge before Eiswerth scored on an infield hit by Kaleigh Kinley.
 
The Devils were held scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning. With two outs in the frame, a single by Centineo a walk by Dana Giardina (New Fairfield, Conn.) and an RBI single through the right side by Pelano gave FDU its first run. Eiswerth, who came on in relief to start the inning struck out the side to maintain a two run edge for the Warriors.
 
Tigar led off the bottom of the seventh with an infield single, but Eiswerth got the next three batters to fly out to end game one with a 3-1 final score.
 
Lycoming starter Kylie Russell threw five shutout inning and picked up the win as she scattered three hits and struck out four. Eiswerth earned her first save of the season for the Warriors. Hoffman moved to 5-6 on the season as she allowed eight hits, three earned runs and struck out three.
 
Tigar and Centineo registered two hits apiece in the opener.
 
Game Two: FDU 9, Lycoming 7
 
Heather Priante (Howell, NJ) scored FDU's first run of the nightcap after she singled and moved to second on an error. Rachel Reiter (Riverside, Calif.) plated Priante on a single through the right side.
 
The Devils used six hits in the bottom of the second to balloon their lead to 5-0. Colleen Conway (Amityville, NY) began the rally with a single to right and eventually scored on a bunt by Giardina. Tigar notched an RBI single, Priante registered an RBI triple and Reiter posted an RBI single to account for FDU's four run inning.

Lycoming scored a pair on the top of the fourth on an RBI single by Kylie Segraves and a sac fly by Angie King. The Warriors then loaded the bases with three straight singles to lead off the sixth, but Hoffman worked out of the jam with three consecutive outs on a fly out, strikeout and fielder's choice.

In the bottom of the sixth, FDU added four runs to its total to make it a 9-2 game. Reiter lined an RBI single to center plating Tigar before a single by Pelano and a three base throwing error allowed three runners to score.

Lycoming rallied in the seventh with five runs, but Hoffman and the Devils fended off the rally to hang on for the 9-7 win and the split. The Warriors loaded the bases without conceding an out. An RBI single from Morgan Wetzel plated one, while a pair of two run singles by Segraves and Eiswerth made the score 9-7. With runners still on, Hoffman got Morgan Klosko and pinch hitter Rachel DeWolfe out to secure the victory.
 
FDU will host Farmingdale State College on Tuesday, April 19 in a non-conference doubleheader at McManus Field beginning at 3:00 pm.

For the latest on FDU-Florham Athletics, follow the Devils via social media (@FDUDevils) on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Youtube.