Softball

FDU-Florham 2, Delaware Valley 1 (Game 1)
FDU-Florham 9, Delaware Valley 1 (Game 2 - 5 innings)

DOYLESTOWN (PA) - Three FDU-Florham pitchers held Delaware Valley College to just two runs and 10 hits in two games as the visiting Devils swept a Freedom Conference doubleheader, 2-1 and 9-1. The second game was called after five innings due to the eight-run mercy rule.

FDU-Florham improved to 18-12 overall and 6-6 in Freedom play as the Devils moved ahead of Drew University (4-4) for the fourth and final conference playoff spot. The Aggies fell to 13-20 overall and 4-10 in the Freedom. They have one doubleheader remaining this season, a non-conference twinbill against Elizabethtown College on Thursday, April 27.

FDU-Florham's Julie Hartnett pitched a complete-game victory in the opener as she allowed just one run and four hits. Jen Haas and Kristin Loriot then combined in the nightcap to permit just one run - on a double steals - and six hits.

Delaware Valley jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first game as Nicole Dorney led off the bottom of the second inning with a line-drive bullet over the left-center field fence for her sixth home run of the season.

It remained a 1-0 ballgame until the fourth when the Devils put runners on first and second with two outs. Loriot then doubled to straightaway center field to knock in both Tara Hulse and Amanda Morrison for a 2-1 lead.

Delaware Valley threatened in the fourth with two runners on and two outs, but Hartnett notched a strikeout to end the inning. She allowed just two runners after that, en route to her ninth win of the season. Kirstyn Ruhling fell to 6-9 for the Aggies, despite allowing just two earned runs and seven hits while striking out three.

The nightcap saw FDU-Florham send 12 batters to the plate in the first innings as the Devils notched eight runs off of two hits, six walks and one Delaware Valley error. Kristen Olah had the big blow in the inning as her second trip to the plate resulted in a two-run double.

The Devils added to their lead in the third as Olah's RBI single brought home Hulse, who reached on a fielder's choice. Olah was 2-for-2 with a double and three RBIs. Haas went the first four innings and allowed one run and five hits as she improved to 5-4 on the year.

Delaware Valley's lone run came in the bottom of the third as Kim Harle doubled and moved to third on a single by Stephanie Sedeyn. The two then pulled off a double steal for a 9-1 ballgame. Harle, who had one of the team's four hits in the opener, went 2-for-3 in the nightcap.