Annvile, PA (May 3) – The FDU-Florham Softball team (18-18, 6-8 MAC Freedom) entered day the second day of the MAC Freedom Championship with high hopes as they won 7-6 in eight innings against second-seeded Misericordia, but ended its season in game two of the day with a 12-4 loss to third-seeded DeSales.


Game One VS Misericordia

FDU-Florham was ready from the very first inning of the day as Bianca DiSanto (Colonia, NJ) collected the Devils' first RBI with a single to left-center field. Misericordia collected one hit in the bottom of the first inning but scored their first of the game in the bottom of the second inning with an RBI single to left field.
 
The Devils turned up the heat with four runs in the third inning including a RBI single from senior Heather Priante (Howell, NJ) and sophomore Victoria Fantozzi (Hillsborough, NJ). A 2 RBI single up the middle from Kristen Tigar (Hazlet, NJ) closed the top of the third inning with a 5-1 score.
 
The Cougars found a few gaps in the Devils' defense in the bottom of the third and fourth innings to close the score within two after an RBI double to right field and a sacrifice fly to center field for the RBI.
 
FDU-Florham extended their lead back to three runs in the seventh inning after Tigar singled through the right side for another RBI, but Misericordia erased the lead with a three-run home run down the left line to force the extra inning.

The winning run came from the bat of Disanto as she sent the ball to center field to bring the runner home for the RBI. The Devils were able to collect the last three outs of the game to advance to the MAC Freedom Semifinals with a final score of 7-6 and their first playoff win since the 2021 season.

Helping the Devils secure the win was DiSanto (4-4) as she was seen in the circle for all eight innings and recorded four strikeouts while facing thirty-nine batters. Marissa Kelly (7-3) threw from the circle for the Cougars as she was seen for five innings and recorded three strikeouts on twenty-two batters.
 
Game Two VS DeSales
 
The DeSales Bulldogs were ready to bite during the first inning of action as eight runs were scored for the early lead. First-year Riley Signor (Media, PA) slowed the Bulldogs' momentum in the second inning with a deep home run to left center field.
 
FDU-Florham continued to add to their side of the scoreboard in the third inning with an RBI double to right-center field from Kacie Centineo (Waldwick, NJ), an RBI hit-by-pitch from DiSanto to send the runner on third base home, and an RBI fielders choice from Kylee Berg (Bordentown, NJ) for the Devils fourth run, 9-4.
 
In the third inning of MAC Freedom semifinal action, DeSales was not done adding to their side of the score they upped their run total to eleven runs and added one more in the fourth inning. FDU-Florham went into the top of the fifth inning looking for a rally but were not able to find one as DeSales did not give the Devils a hit and closed the game in the fifth inning with a 12-4 final score.
 
Graduate student DiSanto (4-5) was seen once again pitching in the circle for the Devils as she pitched one out and faced six batters before first-year Kelly Cornog (Newtown Square, PA) stepped In and pitched the rest of the game while facing twenty-six batters on ninety-one pitches. Receiving the win for DeSales was Rachel Lowery (17-6) as she was seen with two Devil strikeouts on twenty-batters.
 
FDU-Florham ultimately ended the 2024 season with with an 18-18 overall record and 6-8 MAC Freedom regular season record. The Devils claimed a 1-2 record during the MAC Freedom Championship.

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