ERIE, PA. – The D'Youville University softball team was swept in a non-conference doubleheader by Gannon University on Wednesday.
 
Gannon 7, D'Youville 4
 
The Saints got off to a hot start in the top of the first. After senior Emily Przybysz (Hamburg, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch and stole second to advance into scoring position, freshman Annie Jorgenson (Victoria, B.C.) ripped a single up the middle to get DYU on the board. Base hits from junior Summer Clark (Williamsville, N.Y.) and senior Laura Beck (Clifton Park, N.Y.) loaded the bases for freshman Gabby Moreno (San Diego, Calif.), who drew a bases loaded walk to make it 2-0.
 
Gannon responded with three runs off Saints starter Sarah Parzych (Getzville, N.Y.) in the bottom of the first to take a 3-2 lead. They threatened to add on after loading the bases with two outs, but Parzych got a strikeout to avoid further damage. The Golden Knights extended their lead to 4-2 on an RBI groundout in the bottom of the third.
 
DYU had an opportunity to level the game in the top of the fourth after senior Gianna Adamo (Lockport, N.Y.) singled and Clark walked with two outs, but they were unable to score. In the top of the fifth, Moreno drew a leadoff walk and junior Shannon Howes (Palgrave, Ontario) singled to put runners at second and third with no outs. Sophomore Becca Sawyer (Courtice, Ontario) drove in a run with a groundout to cut the deficit to 4-3. Junior Sophia Arno (Clarence Center, N.Y.) followed with an RBI groundout to even the game at 4-4.
 
However, Gannon answered back with three runs on two hits and an error to retake the lead 7-4 in the bottom of the fifth. The Saints got runners on in both the sixth and seventh innings, but they couldn't cash in on either opportunity and the Golden Knights sealed the 7-4 victory.
 
Gannon 8, D'Youville 0
 
DYU had an early chance to score in game two when Clark doubled and Jorgenson walked with two outs in the top of the first, but they were unable to score. Sophomore Kendal Lehnen (Sherrill, N.Y.) ran into trouble in the bottom of the first after hitting a batter, a single, and a walk loaded the bases. A fielder's choice brought in a run to give Gannon an early 1-0 advantage.
 
The score remained 1-0 until the bottom of the fourth, when the Golden Knights plated a run on two hits, but Lehnen struck out the final two batters of the inning to keep it a 2-0 game. Senior Mia Trietley (Buffalo, N.Y.) tried to spark a rally with a leadoff single in the top of the fifth. She advanced to third with one out, but the next two batters were unable to bring her in. Gannon put the nail in the coffin with six runs in the bottom of the sixth to claim the 8-0 victory.
 
D'Youville drops to 18-16 on the year with the loss. They will close out their regular season and look to clinch a postseason berth against the College of Staten Island on Saturday at 12:00 p.m.