NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. – The D'Youville University baseball team fell to Gannon University in their home opener on Tuesday by a score of 8-5.
 
The Saints drew first blood in the bottom of the first inning after an error, a walk, and a fielder's choice set up an RBI fielder's choice from junior Colby Wilson (Webster, N.Y.). Gannon responded with two runs on three hits off DYU starter Rob Stephens (Seaford, N.Y.) in the top of the second to go in front 2-1.
 
In the bottom of the second, sophomore Derek Onevelo (Buffalo, N.Y.) and junior Blaise Kolbert (Lancaster, N.Y.) singled to lead off the inning. A dropped fly ball allowed Onevelo to score and tie the game at 2-2. Redshirt sophomore Cooper Cefaratti (Williamsville, N.Y.) put the Saints back in front with a sacrifice fly to make it 3-2. However, the Golden Knights answered back with four runs on four hits and an error in the top of the third to take a 6-3 lead.
 
Redshirt sophomore Connor Joedicke (Bloomville, N.Y.) took over on the mound for DYU in the top of the fourth. Gannon extended their lead to 8-3 with two runs on two hits and an error in the inning. Kolbert led off the bottom of the fourth with a triple and came in to score on an RBI double from junior Kevin Del Vecchio (Niagara Falls, Ontario). Del Vecchio advanced to third on a groundout and scored on an RBI groundout from Cefaratti to cut the deficit to 8-5.
 
In the top of the sixth, after Gannon put runners on second and third with just one out, Joedicke was able to navigate a clean inning and keep the score at 8-5. The Saints had an opportunity to trim the deficit after Kolbert and Del Vecchio both walked to start the inning and then moved to second and third on a wild pitch, but the next three batters were unable to bring them home.
 
Joedicke struck out a pair in a scoreless top of the seventh to keep DYU within striking distance. Joedicke provided 5.1 innings of relief for the Saints while allowing just one earned run and punching out five. A walk from Wilson and a base hit from junior Jonathan Simpson (Grand Island, N.Y.) put a runner in scoring position for the Saints with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but they could not score. In the bottom of the ninth, Simpson collected his third hit of the day with a two-out double, but DYU could not score as Gannon sealed the 8-5 victory.
 
With the loss, D'Youville falls to 3-16 on the season. They will hit the road again and begin a four-game set at Holy Family University on Thursday at 2:00 p.m.