BOCA RATON, Fla. - The Lynn University softball team secured its first victories of the 2026 season on Thursday afternoon, sweeping Kutztown in a tightly contested doubleheader at the Lynn Softball Field. The Fighting Knights claimed a pair of 5-4 wins, using late offense in game one and a four-run third inning in game two while holding off seventh-inning rallies in both contests to complete the sweep.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game #1):
- Lynn fell behind early after Kutztown used a leadoff double and a bunt that resulted in a Fighting Knight error to plate the first run before an RBI double pushed the visitors in front 2-0 in the opening inning
- The Fighting Knights answered immediately in the bottom half as Ariana Rego worked a leadoff walk and advanced to third on a wild pitch before Kyleigh Hope reached on a bunt single and stole second
- Teagan Riley delivered the big swing of the inning with a double to left that brought home both runners, tying the game at 2-2
- Kutztown threatened again in the second with back-to-back singles, but the Lynn defense held strong and stranded two runners to keep the game even
- Both pitching staffs took control through the middle innings as the teams combined for just one hit from the third through the fifth, maintaining the 2-2 deadlock
- Singles by Onnalee Floriano and Riley put two runners in scoring position in the sixth before Marina Goins lined a two-run single to left center to give the Fighting Knights their first lead of the day
- Savannah Ellis followed with an RBI single up the middle to extend the Lynn advantage to 5-2 heading into the final frame
- Kutztown made one final push in the seventh with a two-run homer to cut the deficit to 5-4 and put the tying run aboard, but the Fighting Knights recorded the final out on a lineout to the pitcher to seal the win
 
FIGHTING KNIGHT STATS (Game #1):
- Riley led the Lynn offense, going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, including the game-tying hit in the first inning
- Goins delivered the decisive swing in the sixth, finishing 1-for-3 with two RBIs, driving in the go-ahead runs during Lynn's three-run rally
- Ellis added insurance with an RBI single in the sixth, finishing 1-for-3 with a run batted in
- Hope recorded a bunt single and stolen base, scoring one of Lynn's early runs as the Fighting Knights pressured Kutztown on the bases
- Floriano went 1-for-3 and scored a run, helping spark the decisive sixth-inning rally
- In the circle, Gabriella Lindsey tossed a complete game, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits with four strikeouts to earn the victory
- As a team, the Fighting Knights finished with six hits and five runs, scoring three times in the sixth inning to break the 2-2 tie and secure the win

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HOW IT HAPPENED (Game #2):
- Both teams opened the game with strong defense as the first two innings moved quickly, with neither side recording a run and Lynn holding the visitors hitless through the first two frames
- Lynn broke the scoreless tie in the third inning when Kyleigh Hope singled to start the rally and later scored on an RBI double by Onnalee Floriano to give the Fighting Knights a 1-0 lead
- Teagan Riley followed with a single and stole second to put two runners in scoring position before Marina Goins reached on an error that allowed two runs to score, extending the advantage to 3-0
- Savannah Ellis capped the inning with an RBI bunt to bring home another run as the Fighting Knights plated four runs in the third to seize control of the game
- The Lynn defense and pitching staff kept Kutztown off the board through six innings, stranding runners in scoring position in both the fourth and sixth to preserve the 4-0 lead
- The Fighting Knights added an insurance run in the sixth when Kaela Santiago singled and later came around to score on a fielder's choice combined with a throwing error, pushing the lead to 5-0
- Kutztown mounted a late rally in the seventh with four runs to cut the deficit to 5-4 and load the bases with two outs, but Lynn recorded the final outs to hold on and secure the victory
 
FIGHTING KNIGHT STATS (Game #2):
- Floriano led the Lynn offense, going 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and run scored, delivering the first run of the game in the third inning
- Riley also posted a multi-hit performance, finishing 2-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base to help spark the Fighting Knights' four-run third inning
- Goins drove in two runs and scored once, reaching base on a play that brought home two runs during Lynn's third-inning rally
- Ellis contributed both in the circle and at the plate, recording an RBI and a hit offensively while earning the complete-game victory in the pitching circle
- Santiago and Quinn Lockhart each added one hit to help Lynn finish with eight total hits on the afternoon
- McFadden provided a key insurance run in the sixth inning with an RBI fielder's choice that helped extend Lynn's lead to 5-0
- In the circle, Ellis (1-3) tossed 7.0 innings, allowing five hits and three earned runs while striking out two to secure the win
- As a team, the Fighting Knights produced eight hits and five runs, with four runs coming in the decisive third inning
 
UP NEXT:
The Fighting Knights are set to compete in The Spring Games in Bartow, Fla. this weekend with action kicking off on Saturday afternoon featuring matchups against Dominican University (NY) (11:00 am) and Wayne State College (1:30 pm).