Buffalo, NY - After winning their first two games of the 2015 AMCC Softball playoffs, the D'Youville Softball Team has advanced to the championship game on Sunday, May 3rd at 10am at the D'Youville Athletic Complex.

The Spartans defeated La Roche on Friday by the score of 3-0 in order to play the Penn State-Behrend Lions on Saturday. As the top two teams in the AMCC during the regular season, D'Youville and Behrend were ranked as the top two teams in the tournament, with the Spartans being #1 and the Lions #2.

In their game on Saturday, the Spartans handled the second seeded Lions by the final of 5-1. Juniors Kalie McHenry (Amherst, NY/Sweet Home) and MacKenzie Kehlenbeck (Oakfield, NY/Oakfield-Alabama) led the team in the game on offense and defense. McHenry, a 5x AMCC Pitcher of the Week winner, pitched 7 innings, allowing 1 earned run on 4 hits and striking out 8. She also picked up an RBI.

Kehlenbeck was the offensive leader for the team, crushing a 2-run homerun to left field. The shortstop's 2 hits, 2 RBI and 2 runs all led the team. MacKenzie leads the team in homeruns, stolen bases and RBI this season.

In two previous meetings in the regular season, the two teams went to extra innings in each game, with both schools coming away with a win each. The first game of the doubleheader was a 1-0 win for the Lions in 10 innings. D'Youville took game two in 8 innings by the score of 2-1. Amanda Drake (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) drove in both runs for the Spartan's in their win.

That 1-0 loss to the Lions was D'Youville's last loss, as the team has won 11 games in a row.

During that 11 game stretch, McHenry has won every game. Her 21 wins leads the conference along with her 1.04 ERA and 161 innings pitched.

On offense, leadoff hitter Lydia Monin (Buffalo, NY/Tapestry Charter School) has been an on base machine. First baseman Lauren DeVantier (Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara-Wheatfield) has been a consistent bat in the lineup all season long, and Hannah Turek (Depew, NY/Lancaster) has been a clutch hitter for the team while also driving in the second most runs on the team.

A complete team effort has gotten the Spartans to the championship game. Catcher Ashley Colan (Grand Island, NY/Grand Island) has been outstanding behind the plate. Seniors Alison Hall (Cheektowaga, NY/Depew) and Jessica Banning (Amherst, NY/Amherst) have been leaders of the team, while Sarah Marino (Buffalo, NY/Holy Angels Academy) has played great at third base.

D'Youville will take on Penn State-Behrend at 10am on the morning of Sunday, May 3rd. If Behrend wins, a second game will be played as the tournament is double-elimination and D'Youville is yet to lose a game.