HACKENSACK, N.J. – Saint Francis University softball dropped both games of a Saturday doubleheader against Fairleigh Dickinson. The Knights won game one 4-2 and game two 5-1.
 
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
» Olivia Ulam hit a solo home run and drew two walks and Jordan Pietrzykoski went 3-for-6 with one run scored.
» Grace Vesco pitched six innings and allowed four runs (two earned) with three walks and seven strikeouts in game one.
» Rachel Marsden pitched five innings and allowed five runs on nine hits with no walks and two strikeouts in game two.
» Fairleigh Dickinson's Cassidy Triska went 4-for-5 with two home runs, one in each game.
 
FLASH QUOTES
"This was a good wake-up call that we need to bring our best every day. Not just when it's first and second place like last series, we need to bring it every time. We didn't hit, pitch or play defense well and you're going to lose games when you don't do at least two of those things well. Going into tomorrow we need to have a short-term memory and figure out a way to build our confidence back up. If we can do that, we'll have another shot tomorrow." – Head coach Jessica O'Donnell.
 
TURNING POINTS OF THE GAME – GAME 1
» Saint Francis started the game with a single from Mekenzie Saban, followed by a single by Pietrzykoski that scored Saban after a Fairleigh Dickinson error. With runners on first and third and no outs, Saint Francis could not produce more than one run.
» Two scoreless innings ensued before the Knights scored two runs on an error and a bases-loaded walk and took a 2-1 lead. In the fourth inning, Fairleigh Dickinson's Triska extended the lead to 4-1 with a two-run home run.
» Pietrzykoski led off the sixth inning with a single and scored after two wild pitches to cut the deficit to 4-2. With the Red Flash unable to score in the seventh inning, Fairleigh Dickinson clinched its 4-2 game one victory.
 
TURNING POINTS OF THE GAME – GAME 2
» Fairleigh Dickinson started the game with a two-run first inning behind an RBI single and groundout and to open a 2-0 lead. Ulam responded with a solo home run in the second inning that cut the Red Flash deficit to 2-1.
» The Knights regained a two-run lead with an RBI groundout in the third inning. In the fourth inning, Saint Francis had runners on second and third with two outs but could not drive in a run.
» In the fourth inning, Fairleigh Dickinson's Triska hit a two-run home run and opened a 5-1 lead. Saint Francis produced one hit over the final three innings before Fairleigh Dickinson clinched its 5-1 win.

FLASH NUGGETS
» With a hit to lead off game one, Saban is now tied for third in program history with 236-career hits.
» Marissa Frederick made her fourth collegiate appearance and allowed no runs on one hit in one inning pitched.
» Ulam hit her fourth-career home run and second in Saint Francis' past four games.

UP NEXT
Saint Francis and Fairleigh Dickinson concluded the series on Sunday, April 24 at 12 p.m.