NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. – The D'Youville University baseball team fell to Molloy University in a low-scoring pitchers duel on Friday by a score of 2-1.
 
Molloy struck first after an error put the leadoff batter at third base, enabling a groundout to put them in front 1-0. Saints' starter Chris Auclair (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) struck out two in the inning to avoid further damage. He struck out the side, all looking, in the top of the third to keep the score at 1-0.
 
The Lions tacked on another run in the top of the fourth with three hits and a walk off Auclair to extend their lead to 2-0. Auclair breezed through the top of the sixth, striking out two in a one-two-three frame. DYU did not have a baserunner until the bottom of the sixth. A fielding error ended the perfect game bid and redshirt junior Jake Hollins (Orchard Park, N.Y.) subsequently broke up the no-hitter with a single. The Saints now had runners at the corners with two outs, but they were unable to score.
 
Auclair put up another zero in the top of the seventh to keep DYU within two. The Saints finally broke through in the bottom of the seventh. After senior Alec Boucher (Essex, Ontario) led off the inning with a base hit, junior Billy Morris (Lancaster, N.Y.) ripped a double into the left center field gap to plate their first run of the game and cut the Lions' lead to 2-1. A groundout advanced to Morris to third with just one out, but the next two batters were retired to keep Molloy in front.
 
Auclair exited with one man on and one out in the top of the eighth, ending his masterful performance in which he struck out a season-high eleven batters, scattered eight hits, and only walked one. Redshirt sophomore Connor Joedicke (Bloomville, N.Y.) entered and immediately induced a ground ball double play to end the inning.
 
Redshirt sophomore Michael Huff II (North Tonawanda, N.Y.) led off the bottom of the eighth with a single, but DYU was unable to capitalize and the score remained 2-1 heading to the ninth. Joedicke allowed a walk and a single to put himself in a jam in the top of the ninth, but he induced another inning-ending double play to end the threat. The Saints would not go down without a fight, as Boucher and Morris both singled to put the tying-run in scoring position with just one out, but Molloy got a ground ball double play to seal the 2-1 victory.
 
With the loss, D'Youville drops to 6-7 in conference play and 12-28 overall. They will be back at Sal Maglie Stadium on Saturday to celebrate their Senior Day and face Molloy in a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m.