Hackensack, N.J. (April 13, 2014)  -- The Mount St. Mary's softball team split a pair of games at Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday, winning game one by a 1-0 score before falling in the second game, 2-1. With the victory in the first game, the Mount tied last year's win total of 16.

The Mount (16-16-1, 4-2 NEC) won its fourth-consecutive game in the first contest of the day against FDU (11-16, 2-4 NEC).

GAME ONE
MOUNT 1 – FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 0

A dominating pitching performance to go with a solo home run were enough to lift the Mount past Fairleigh Dickinson in game one's 1-0 shutout. Nicole Pagano, who combined for 17 strikeouts in the two games, fanned seven in the opener while yielding five hits and no runs in the complete-game shutout.

Pagano received all the support she needed on a solo home run by Tori Belloc in the top of the third inning.  For the freshman shortstop from Casa Grande, Ariz., it is her second career home run.

Outside of Belloc's homer, the Mount threatened runs throughout the game with runners reaching second base in the first, third and fifth innings, in addition to putting a runner on third in the fourth. FDU pitcher Megan Reiner was able to work out of most of the jams, however, striking out 10 in a complete game loss.

Freshman Jessica Greenewald led the Mount with a 2-for-3 effort at the dish, while senior Cat Clifford hit her team leading eighth double of the season. For Pagano in the circle, it was her sixth shutout of the year.

GAME TWO
FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 2 – MOUNT 1

In game two, Pagano breezed through the Knights' lineup the first time around, allowing just one single in the first three innings. FDU was finally able to breakthrough with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth for a 2-0 lead. A single run for the Mount in the sixth was not enough as the Mountaineers split the doubleheader.

FDU scored its runs when Angelique Nieves knocked a triple down the left field line to plate two runners. In the top of the sixth, Belloc led off with a single and took second on Lindsey Ruhle's groundout. Alyssa Silipino followed with a single to right and an error in the outfield allowed Belloc to score. The Mount did not get a runner past first base the rest of the way.

In the loss, Pagano scattered five hits while striking out 10 and giving up two earned runs on five hits. FDU starter Samantha Lemm tossed 4.1 innings without giving up a run to pick up the win, and Reiner went the final 2.2 innings for the save.

The Mount outhit the Knights, 8-5, in game two and 13-10 on the afternoon.

Next week, the Mount hosts doubleheaders versus LIU Brooklyn on Friday, April 18, at 1 p.m. and Wagner on Saturday, April 19, at noon.