Softball Held Off by Fairleigh Dickinson

Links: Box Score (Game 1) | Box Score (Game 2)
 
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.– In a pair of league contests the Merrimack softball team fell on home turf to Fairleigh Dickinson in a doubleheader against the Knights to open the series on Saturday.
 
The Basics
Score: Game 1: Merrimack 0, Fairleigh Dickinson 1 | Final
Score: Game 2: Merrimack 2, Fairleigh Dickinson 11 | Final
Records: Merrimack Warriors (6-10, 2-3 NEC) | Fairleigh Dickinson (9-12, 4-1 NEC)
Location: Martone-Mejail Field | North Andover, Mass.    

Rapid Recap (Game One)

• Teams traded outs to start the first game of the contest, as FDU opened the first with a double that was stranded aboard before the Warriors worked a baserunner in the inning with a walk.
• FDU worked a walk in the second but left her stranded before working a hit on a fielder's choice that was ultimately left on, before again stranding a walk in the fourth.
• Merrimack worked its most threatening inning in the fourth. Sarah Reisler walked and was joined on base by Ellen Hubbard with a single to left. Jenna Wike was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out, before a shallow pop up and strikeout left the Warriors aboard.
• The visitors scored the only run of the day in the sixth, getting early energy with a leadoff double to left. A single to deep center brought in the runner from second with one out before the Knights were caught stealing and struck out looking to negate the threat.
• In the sixth, the Warriors had an opportunity with a base runner after Ellen Hubbard worked a single that skipped off of first base and went skyward to let her reach safely, but the defense kept her from bringing the game even for the Warriors.

 
Rapid Recap (Game Two)

• Merrimack's offense worked to rebound early, with Courtney Lanpher working a leadoff single. She was joined on base by Reisler after a walk, with both advancing over on a sacrifice hit by Hubbard. A pair of outs again kept the Warriors from taking an early lead.
• FDU struck in the top of the second when a walk and a home run gave an opening 2-0 lead. The Knights continued in the third with a lead off home run, before a pop up and walk put one on with one out with another long ball putting five on the board for the visitors.
• The Warriors responded in the bottom of the third. Lanpher stayed patient at the plate to work a walk, before Reisler's speed let her advance safely after a shallow chopper. Hubbard singled to left to load the bases, before Wike chopped a ball back to the pitcher for Lanpher to be tagged out at home. On a similar hit, Sydney Shimkus reached safely with Reisler getting edged out by a slim margin at home to keep Merrimack off the board. Nicole Koshes dropped a single to right to bring in Hubbard for the first run on the board for the Warriors.
• FDU added three runs on four hits in the fourth to extend their lead before a grounder back to Katelyn Thompson with the bases loaded stymied the Knight's offensive efforts. The Knights added another in the fifth to make it a 9-1 game.
• Merrimack added its second of the day in the fifth. Reisler worked a walk and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Hubbard to put her at second before she was sent in on a double to center by Jenna Wike.
• The Knights finished the day with two runs on four hits in the seventh inning.

 
Notes and Numbers

• Game 1: WP – Alyana Savaglio (4-3) | LP- Bry Michitson (3-3)
• Game 2: WP – Julia Swan (4-2) LP- Madie Fornwalt (3-4)

 
Up Next:
The Warriors and Knights will finish the weekend set on Sunday with first pitch at Martone-Mejail Field set for 12 noon.   
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