TEANECK, NJ– The Saint Peter's softball team (7-41) battled hard but ultimately fell 7-3 and 9-7 to FDU (18-31) in its final road doubleheader of the season at FDU Softball Field.
Carlee Charles paced the offense with a two-home run, four-RBI day.
This marked the second meeting between the two programs, with FDU also sweeping the earlier matchup by a combined score of 23-3.
Ava White (2-7) made the start in the opener, going the distance while allowing four earned runs on 13 hits.
Offensively, Saint Peter's totaled eight hits in game one, with
Kiana Kadena Matsuda finishing a perfect 2-for-2, while
Hannah Klotz went 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Carlee Charles also smashed her fourth home run of the season.
In the nightcap,
Gabriella Rivera (1-6) got the start, pitching 6.0 innings while allowing seven earned runs on 12 hits and striking out three.
The Peacocks' offense came alive in game two, recording a season-high 15 hits.
Carlee Charles, Hannah Klotz, and Kiana Kadena Matsuda each went 3-for-4. Charles launched her second homer of the day–her team-leading fifth of the season–adding two RBIs and two runs scored, while Klotz scored once and Kadena Matsuda drove in a pair.
Despite the offensive output and just two strikeouts in the game, Saint Peter's stranded 10 runners, including six in scoring position.
HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME ONE
FDU got on the board first in the bottom of the third, capitalizing on a Peacock error and three consecutive hits to take a 2-0 lead.
The Peacocks responded with a three-run fourth inning.
Carlee Charles launched her fourth home run of the season to cut the deficit in half. A walk from
Olivia Christopher, a bunt from
Hannah Klotz, and a hit from
Steph Bendzlowicz tied the game at 2-2. Pinch hitter
Bella Nutting drove in Christopher to give Saint Peter's a 3-2 lead.
The Knights regained the lead in the bottom of the inning with a five-run frame. Two Peacock errors, a single, and a sacrifice bunt tied the game at 3-3, and a walk followed by four additional hits extended the lead to 7-3.
Saint Peter's threatened in the sixth, loading the bases off a leadoff single by Klotz, an infield single from Bendzlowicz, and a one-out bunt from
Kiana Kadena Matsuda, but a lineout and a pop-up stranded the runners.
The Peacocks were retired in order in the seventh, securing game one for FDU.
GAME TWO
Saint Peter's opened the nightcap with an early 2-0 lead.
Olivia Christopher led off with a double to left field, and
Angela Tremarco followed with an RBI infield single.
Carlee Charles added a single to put runners on the corners, and with two outs,
Angelina Wagner drove in another run with a base hit.
FDU responded with a five-run bottom frame. The Peacocks recorded two outs on a pop-up and a strikeout, but the Knights capitalized, scoring on a wild pitch before tying the game with two walks and a single. A three-run homer extended the lead to 5-2.
The Knights added another run in the second, loading the bases before bringing one home on a sacrifice fly.
Gabriella Rivera worked out of the inning with a strikeout and an infield pop-up.
Saint Peter's cut into the deficit in the third. Charles led off with an infield single, followed by a hit from
Hannah Klotz. With one out,
Kiana Kadena Matsuda delivered a bases-clearing single to make it 6-4.
After holding FDU scoreless for two innings–including a clean fourth–Rivera allowed an insurance run in the fifth on a pair of doubles, pushing the lead to 7-4.
In the sixth, the Peacocks rallied to tie the game. Christopher drew a one-out walk, and Tremarco singled to put runners on the corners.
Paige Seemon lifted a sacrifice fly, and Charles followed with a two-run homer to even the score at 7-7.
FDU answered in the bottom half with three singles and a double to regain the lead, then closed out the game in the seventh to complete the sweep, 9-7.
UP NEXT
Saint Peter's closes its season with a three-game MAAC series, hosting Fairfield at Jaroschak Field May 1-2. Friday's doubleheader begins at 12 p.m., with game two to follow at 2 p.m. The series concludes Saturday at noon, with Field Day festivities scheduled after the game.
For continuing coverage of Saint Peter's University Athletics, visit SaintPetersPeacocks.com and follow the Peacocks on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
