ABERDEEN, MD — D'Youville split a tightly contested neutral-site doubleheader with Southern New Hampshire University on Saturday, grinding out a dramatic extra-inning win in the opener before falling in game two.
In game one, the Saints outlasted Southern New Hampshire in a 14-inning thriller, collecting 17 hits and capitalizing on four Penmen errors to secure a 9-8 victory. Senior Colby Wilson powered the offense with four hits, including a double and a game-tying three-run home run in the seventh, finishing with four RBIs. Jacob Cooper delivered the decisive hit in the 14th inning, lining an RBI single to score Jacob Ferris and seal the win. Ferris sparked the lineup throughout the afternoon, swiping three bases and scoring twice.
Billy Morris played a pivotal two-way role, tossing six strong innings while allowing just one earned run and striking out five, adding two hits at the plate. Mihir Manerikar and Evan Froelich combined for seven innings of work, and Eric Osterstrom earned the win with a scoreless inning in relief, striking out two.
Trailing 3-0 early and later 7-3 after a seventh-inning surge by the Penmen, the Saints answered each time. Colby Wilson's three-run homer in the 7th made it 7-6, and Garrett Wilson's RBI single in the eighth brought the score even. After Southern New Hampshire knocked a double and scored in the 11th, Kevin Del Vecchio was brought home on a sacrifice fly by Jake Hollins, making it 8-8 and setting the stage for the Saints. D'Youville remained poised as Jacob Cooper's clutch walk-off hit brought the marathon contest to a victorious close.
In the second game, the Saints were limited to two hits in a 10-0 setback.
Hollins and Colby Wilson each recorded a hit, while Blaise Kolbert turned in a steady defensive performance at third base with five assists. Matt McGeorge added four assists at shortstop, highlighting D'Youville's defensive effort.
Saints' sophomore Ty Graczyk got the start, allowing two earned runs over three innings. Brendan Gossling provided 1 2/3 innings of relief with three strikeouts, and Deryk Kulp retired both batters he faced. Despite several solid relief appearances, Southern New Hampshire capitalized on key opportunities, including a two-run home run in the second inning and a four-run seventh to extend its advantage.
The Saints were unable to generate momentum offensively in the finale, as the Penmen pitching staff kept D'Youville off the scoreboard.
D'Youville finishes day one in Aberdeen with a hard-earned split, demonstrating resilience in a 14-inning battle and continuing to build experience in early-season competition.
Up next for the Saints, they'll get two more chances to take on the Penmen with a doubleheader scheduled for 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 1st.
