Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
ERIE, Pa. - In their first true road games of the season, the D'Youville softball team couldn't match a red-hot Mercyhurst offense in Tuesday's doubleheader, falling 8-2 and 9-1, to the Lakers. The pair setbacks are the first blemishes on D'Youville's season as the Saints fall to 6-2 overall. The season's start matches last season's identical mark after eight games.
Senior Maddy Pepke got the Saints off on the right foot, beating out an infield single, and then reached second base on a throwing error via the Laker's second baseman. Pepke got a good read on a wild pitch and advanced to third despite a good attempt from the Mercyhurst catcher to throw the speedy senior out. Freshman Gianna Adamo got the job done with a bloop single to left-center to drive Pepke in and hand the Saints an early 1-0 advantage.
The Lakers countered with three runs in the home half of the first inning and tacked on two more in the second to claim a 5-1 advantage. A run in the fifth and two more in the sixth rounded out the scoring for Mercyhurst.
The Saints added one more on the final play of the game as freshman Emily Przybysz advanced home when freshman Bryanna Dewey was caught in a rundown in between first and second. Despite Przybysz's run, Dewey was tagged out to end the game.
Freshman Lauren Booth (3-1) got the starting nod in game one but suffered her first defeat of the season. In 5.0 innings, the sophomore surrendered six earned runs on eight hits. Freshman Cassie Crerar (1.0 inning) tossed the sixth inning in relief for the Saints.
The nightcap started in a similar fashion with Pepke getting a lead-off hit to later plate the game's first run in the top of the first inning. This time, a single to left field got the Lancaster native on base. Adamo would force a walk in her plate appearance to put two runners on. The freshman was caught stealing during junior Mikaela Milleville's at-bat, but Pepke was able to score from second on the play.
Crooked numbers in the third, fourth, and fifth innings put the Saints away for the second time. Freshman pitcher Sarah Parzych (3-1) was able to hold the Laker's offense at bay, only allowing two hits in the first two innings. Parzych was charged with four earned runs on 10 hits in her first defeat of the season.
Pepke (2-for-3, run scored) and junior catcher Hannah Bardeen (2-for-2) led the Saints' offense in game two.
The Saints continue non-conference action against PSAC opposition tomorrow afternoon when they travel to Johnstown, Pa. for a doubleheader with Pitt.-Johnstown beginning at noon.
