Hampton, Va. (3/1/20) --- Rylie Schmeh drove home the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth inning to lift Fairleigh Dickinson to a 6-5 extra-inning (8 inn.) victory over Delaware State in the Hampton Tournament finale for both teams today. The Knights avenged a 4-2 loss to the Hornets on Saturday to improve to 3-7 this season, while Delaware State fell to 1-15.
The Hornets, who led 4-1 in the fourth inning, had home runs by Caitlyn Meyer and Jade King in the game.
DSU opened the scoring when Meyer hit a solo shot with one out in the bottom of the second inning. The home run was her second of the season, each in the last two days.
After FDU tied the game with a run in the top of the fourth, the Hornets regained the lead in their next at bat.
There were two out and the bases empty in the DSU fourth when Meyer drew a walk and Alaena Selden followed with a single to put runners at second and first. King then unloaded a three-run homer to left center to give the Hornets a 4-1 lead. King has also homered in each of the last two days tie Meyer for the team lead with two.
DSU lead was short-lived, however, as Fairleigh Dickinson responded with four runs in the top of the fifth to pull ahead 5-4.
The Hornets tied the game in the ensuing half inning when Jasmine Melgoza doubled with one out and scored on a FDU error on a ball off the bat of Jordan Casey to tie the game at 5-5 in the fifth.
Delaware State was unable to get a hit after the fifth inning.
Up by a run in the bottom of the eighth inning, Fairleigh Dickinson reliever Alayna Salvaglio struck out the side to end the game. Salvaglio (1-3) did not allow a hit and fanned eight of the nine DSU batters she faced to earn the win.
Brianna Baker (1-5) suffered the loss for the Hornets in the complete game effort.
Delaware State returns to action next week in a three-day tournament hosted by Texas Tech (Mar. 6-8).