Glenside, Pa. (April 23) – Behind a strong game one pitching performance by
Ciara Hoffman (Freehold, NJ), the FDU-Florham softball team split its MAC Freedom doubleheader with Arcadia University on the road today. The Devils took game one, 4-0, but fell in the nightcap, 16-1.
FDU-Florham is now 11-11 on the season and 7-5 in the MAC Freedom, while Arcadia, which earned a spot in the NCAA Division III Regional Rankings this week, suffered its second league loss of the year and is 25-6 overall and 12-2 in conference play.
Game One: FDU 4, Arcadia 0
A leadoff single by
Kristen Tigar (Hazlet, NJ) and a two base error led to an RBI single by
Rachel Reiter (Riverside, Calif.) for a 1-0 edge. Hoffman retired nine of the first eleven batters she faced and never allowed a runner to reach third base over the course of the seven inning affair.
FDU added one in the fourth on an RBI single by
Dana Giardina (New Fairfield, Conn.) after
Kacie Centineo (Waldwick, NY) doubled to right center. Giardina doubled to begin the seventh and scored on an error, before
Kristina Pelano (Howell, NJ) came across the plate with FDU's fourth run of the game on another error.
Hoffman (8-6) scattered four hits and struck out three in the complete game shutout.
Game Two: Arcadia 16, FDU 1
Arcadia got the bats going in game two as the Knights raced out to a 14-0 lead through just three innings of play. An RBI double by N. Diianni got the scoring starters as the Knights posted two in the first, nine in the second, three in the third and two in the fourth on 18 total hits.
FDU's lone run of game two came as an RBI single by
Colleen Conway (Amityville, NY).
The No. 2 through No. 6 batters for Arcadia went a combined 14-for-18 with ten runs and 12 RBI.
Juliana Presto earned the win (17-2) for Arcadia on four innings, three hits, one earned run and ten strikeouts. Hoffman took the loss (8-7) in 1.1 innings in the circle.
FDU will host DeSales University on Wednesday, April 27 at 3:00 pm in a MAC Freedom doubleheader in the team's Strikeout Cancer Game.
