MELBOURNE, FL – The D'Youville University Softball team split a pair of games in day two of the Space Coast Games. A strong offensive showing from D'Youville gave them the 6-0 shutout victory in game one against Bloomfield College. The Saints ran into a tough opponent in game two as they fell to the University of Minnesota-Crookston 4-1 in game two.

D'Youville University 6 vs Bloomfield College 0 – Game One
The Saints earned their first shutout victory of the season defeating Bloomfield College 6-0. Alex Packard (West Seneca, N.Y. / St. Mary's) went the distance in the circle striking out seven batters while only allowing two hits. Emily Przybysz (Hamburg, N.Y. / Frontier Central) led the Saints on offense going three-for-four while Becca Sawyer (Courtice, Ontario, Canada / Holy Trinity Catholic SS) went two-for-four with two RBIs and a triple.

How it Happened
It was a pitcher's battle to start the game as the score remained at zero through three and a half innings. Annie Jorgenson (Victoria, BC, Canada / Belmont SS) led off the bottom of the fourth with a double to left centerfield and Shannon Howes (Palgrave, Ontario, Canada / St. Thomas Aquinas) knocked Jorgenson in on a well-placed single to first base to put the Saints on the board. D'Youville plated another run as Sawyer tripled Howes in but got thrown out at the plate trying to leg out an inside-the-park homerun. The Saints managed to load the bases and Przybysz brought in the Saints third run on an infield single.

Bloomfield was unable to answer in the top of the fifth and the Saints offense continued to apply pressure. Summer Clark (Williamsville, N.Y. / Williamsville East) led off the inning with a double and Taylor Stronciski (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada / College Beliveau) took over as a pinch runner. Laura Beck (Clifton Park, N.Y. / Shenendehowa) put the ball in play reaching first on a fielder's choice which advanced Stronciski to third. Stronciski then capitalized on a Bloomfield throwing error to score the Saints fourth run. Becca Sawyer and Sophia Arno (Clarence Center, N.Y. / The Brook Hill School) both came up big with single to bring the Saints to a 6-0 lead as the fifth inning came to an end.

Packard continued to shut down the Bloomfield offense along with a perfect fielding performance from the field in the sixth and seventh and D'Youville went on to defeat the Bears 6-0 and move to 3-0 on the year.

D'Youville University 1 vs University of Minnesota-Crookston 4 – Game Two
Becca Sawyer stayed strong at the plate in game two going two-for-three in game two while Summer Clark had a strong start on the mound recording three strikeouts and only allowing one run. As a team D'Youville recorded six hits and two doubles in the game.

How it Happened
It was a defensive battle between the Golden Eagles and the Saints as four hits were scattered between the two teams in the first two innings. Minnesota-Crookston capitalized in the bottom of the third scoring one run off three consecutive singles, but the Saints escaped further damage with a double play to end the inning.

The Saints saw an opportunity in the top of the third as Laura Beck led off with a double to left centerfield and Sophia Arno filled first after being hit by a pitch. Przybysz put the ball in play, but the Golden Eagles escaped the inning to keep the score at zero.  Minnesota-Crookston capitalized in the bottom of the third scoring one run off three consecutive singles, but the Saints shut down the Golden Eagle momentum with a double play to end the inning.

The Saints got even in the top of the sixth as Isabella Mancino (Wynantskill, N.Y. / Averill Park) led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a ground ball from Emily Przybysz. Gianna Adamo (Lockport, N.Y. / Starpoint) came up big for the Saints with a double down the left field line to score Mancino and tie the game.

The Saints defense looked to shut down the Golden Eagles in the bottom of the sixth as they reached two outs with runners on first and second, but the Golden Eagles gained momentum plating three more runs to take the 4-1 lead.

D'Youville fought back in the top of the seventh, down to their last three outs as Gabby Moreno (San Diego, Calif. / Rancho Buena Vista) singled to start the inning and Becca Sawyer followed with an infield single of her own, but the Golden Eagles defense held up as they got out of the inning and took the game 4-1.

Up Next
D'Youville continues their week at the Space Coast Games with another doubleheader tomorrow, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The Saints faceoff against Ursuline College at 10:00 AM followed by another matchup against Jefferson University at 2:30 PM.