Clermont, FL – The D'Youville softball team split their opening day of the 2017 season after suffering a 10-5 loss to the Lawrence Vikings and a 4-2 victory over the Southern Maine Huskies.

The first game of the day started off extremely well for the Spartans. Ashley Carney (Clarence, NY/Clarence) got her first career hit to lead off the game, singling to center. Two batters later, Darian Evans (Brant, NY/Lake Shore) came to bat and belted a two-run homer to center field, giving D'Youville a 2-0 lead after the first inning.

D'Youville would double their lead in the top of the third. Cameron Colan (Grand Island, NY/Grand Island) got on base, followed by a double from Carney. With two outs and two runners on base, Hannah Turek (Depew, NY/Lancaster) doubled to center field, scoring Colan and Carney to give the Spartans a 4-0 lead.

However, Lawrence would pounce in the third and fourth innings, scoring a combined 10 runs to take a 10-4 lead. Turek would drive in Colan in the fifth inning to make the game 10-5, but the score would remain that score to the final pitch as Lawrence defeated D'Youville 10-5.

Carney had an outstanding debut for the Spartans, going 4-4 and scoring two runs. Fellow freshman Colan went 2-2 in the game with two runs of her own. Turek led the way with three RBI, while Evans added two RBI. At pitcher, Turek went six innings and struck out four.

It didn't take long for D'Youville to strike again in the second game of the day. In the bottom of the first, Carney again led off the game with a hit, this time a triple. She would score on the next play off the bat of a fielder's choice from Lauren Gawlak (Hamburg, NY/Frontier).

With a 1-0 lead, the Spartans loaded the bases for Colan, who unloaded the bases with a three-run triple. With all three runners crossing the plate, D'Youville took a 4-0 lead after the first inning.

Southern Maine scored a run in each the second and third innings, but their score was limited as D'Youville would hold onto their lead through the remainder of the game and win their first game of the season 4-2.

Alexis Dymond (Kenmore, NY/Kenmore West) made her debut for the Spartans as a pitcher and was extremely impressive. The freshman went 7.0 innings, allowing one earned run and struck out one. Colan led the team with three RBI, with five different players recording a hit. Each four of the runs that scored were by different players as well.

The women will next play on Sunday, March 19 as they against Carthage at 2pm and Colby at 4:30pm.