Madison, NJ (April 27) – The FDU-Florham softball team clinched a spot in the 2022 MAC Freedom Tournament with their conference split with DeSales University this afternoon on McManus Field. DeSales took game one, 8-7, in eight innings before FDU won the nightcap, 4-2.
 
FDU is now 12-12 overall on the year and 8-6 in MAC Freedom play, while DeSales dropped to 11-20 overall and 6-8 in the conference. Prior to the start of today's game, the Devils had Joey Nigro of the men's basketball team throw out the first pitch in support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
 
Game One: DeSales 8, FDU 7 (8 Innings)
 
In the opener, Kristen Tigar (Hazlet, NJ) went 4-for-5 from the leadoff spot, while Kacie Centineo (Waldwick, NJ) went 3-for-4 with two runs scored.
 
A pair of RBI singles in the second and third innings gave DeSales a 2-0 edge before FDU plated five in the bottom of the third as Kristina Pelano (Howell, NJ) plated Centineo on a single before Bianca DiSanto (Colonia, NJ) and Tigar both registered two run doubles. A single by Colleen Conway (Amityville, NJ) pushed FDU's lead to 6-3 in the fourth before Tori Kenney lined a two-run homer for the Bulldogs in the fifth.
 
The Devils trailed 7-6 heading into the bottom of the seventh, Pelano worked a walk, stole second, moved to third on a bunt and scored on a ground out by DiSanto as the game moved into extra innings.

An RBI single by Kenny gave DeSales an 8-7 lead in the eighth and then the Bulldogs set the Devils bats down in the bottom half to end the opener.
 
Ciara Hoffman (Freehold, NJ) took the loss on 15 hits, nine runs (six earned) and six strikeouts in eight innings in the circle for FDU, while Tabitha Lawless earned the win out of pen with 5.1 innings as she allowed just five hits and two runs (one earned).
 
Game Two: FDU 4, DeSales 2
 
After two scoreless innings, DeSales struck first once again on an RBI single by Nicole Secara in the top of the third.

Centineo began the bottom of the fourth with a double and moved to third on a single by Rachel Reiter (Riverside, Calif.). Conway brought both home on a two run single. Morgan DeLoreto (Denville, NJ) added an RBI double to right for the 3-1 edge through four.
 
Both teams scored once in the fifth before Hoffman shut the Bulldogs down 1-2-3 in the top of the six to secure the 4-2 victory. Game two was called after six innings due to darkness after a long opening game.
 
DiSanto earned the win (4-3) on four innings, six hits, one earned run and two strikeouts, before Hoffman came in for the two inning save, her third of the year.
 
FDU will round out its regular season on Saturday, April 30 with a MAC Freedom doubleheader at Misericordia.

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