GAME 1
GAME 2

Hackensack, NJ – The Wagner College softball team garnered a pair of Northeast Conference (NEC) wins late this afternoon against the Fairleigh Dickinson University Knights. Senior Andrea Lazzari (Reno, NV / Wooster) blasted two home runs and drove in five runs in leading Wagner to a decisive 12-6 win over FDU in the first of two games before notching her third in the Seahawks 8-1 victory in the night cap.

Wagner jumped in front early with five unearned runs in the top of the first. After FDU starter RHP Caitlin Bradac retired the first two batters, Lazzari blasted a double to left center before freshman Amanda Garcia (Fresno, CA / California State University, Fresno) reached via an error, moving Lazzari to third. Junior Kate Eshelman (Reno, NV / McQueen) put the Green & White on the scoreboard with a RBI single to right field, plating Lazzari. Sophomore Ashley Olsen (Staten Island, NY / Notre Dame Academy) followed with a run-scoring single of her own, bringing around Garcia. Senior Jaclyn Vanore (Palisades Park, NJ / Paramus Catholic) made it 4-0 Wagner with a two-run double to center field, scoring Eshelman and Olsen. Freshman Vanessa Lenart (Fontana, CA / Henry J. Kaiser HS) capped the five-run first inning with the fifth Seahawk hit of the inning, a RBI single right center.

The Seahawks pushed the lead out to 9-0 with four runs in the top of the fourth. Senior Cindy Bagnoli (Old Tappan, NJ / Old Tappan) got things rolling with a run-scoring single to right center, plating Corthell, who had singled earlier in the frame, before advancing to second on the throw home while moving sophomore Emily Pierce (Phoenix, AZ / Desert Vista) to third. Lazzari followed Bagnoli with her first home run of the afternoon, a three-run blast, making it 9-0.

The Knights would not go down quietly, cutting the Seahawk lead to 9-6 with three runs in the bottom of the fourth and three more in the bottom of the fifth. Corthell answered with a solo home run to lead off the top of the seventh, extending the lead out to 10-6. Lazzari added to the lead with her second blast of the game, a two run shot, while providing the final 12-6 tally.

Freshman RHP Kaelynn Armenta (Whittier, CA / Paul HS) struck out three and yielded six runs on eight hits over 7.0 innings while improving to 6-11 on the year.

Lazzari was 3-5 with two home runs, five RBI and three runs to lead the way for Wagner offense which erupted for 15 hits as nine different Seahawks hit safely. Bagnoli, Corthell, Garcia and Lenhart all recorded multiple hits, rounding out the top offensive performers for Wagner.

The second game started slowly with each team leaving the bases loaded in the early going. Fairleigh Dickinson stranding three in the bottom of the second before the Green & White left the bags full in the top of the third. The Seahawks finally broke through in the top of the fourth with a pair of two-out runs.

Eshelman led off the frame with an infield hit to third. Vanore singled Eshelman over to third with one out and advanced to second on the throw. After Knights pitcher Kirsten Shreve got the second out via the K, Corthell dented the scoreboard with a two-run double up the middle, plating Eshelman and Vanore.

The Knights clawed right back, scoring one run on three hits in the bottom of the fourth only to see Lazzari extend the lead back out to two at 3-1 with her third home run of the doubleheader, a solo shot to lead off the top of the fifth. The carnage continued as Eshelman walked and scored on junior Amanda deLancellotti's (Fr., San Clemente, CA / Florida C.C. at Jacksonville) single before Vanore pushed the lead out to 5-1 with a RBI single up the middle, plating deLancellotti.

Garcia propelled the lead out to 7-1 in the top of the sixth with a two-run home run while bringing around Lazzari, who had reached via an error. The Knight's pitcher walked in Lenart, adding one more run in the top of the seventh inning to make the final 8-1.

Garcia earned her first win of the season, moving her record to 1-1. The sophomore fanned four while allowing just one run in her 5.2 innings in the circle.

The Seahawks (14-22, 3-7 NEC) return to action Wednesday, April 15 when they return home to host Iona College in a NEC doubleheader. First pitch of game one is set for 3:00 PM.