CANTON, Ohio — D'Youville (10-8) faced Malone University (14-6) in a doubleheader, falling in both contests with scores of 4-1 in game one and 4-3 in game two.
In the first game, Malone took an early lead in the second inning with a triple followed by a sacrifice fly, ending the inning with the Pioneers ahead 1-0. D'Youville responded in the fifth inning when
Frankie Morris (Lancaster, N.Y. / Lancaster) doubled and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by
Isabella Mancino (Wynantskill, N.Y. / Averill Park).
Leah Batterson's (Canandaigua, N.Y. / Red Jacket) sacrifice fly brought Morris home, tying the game at 1-1. However, the Pioneers quickly regained the lead, capitalizing on two errors to end the fifth inning up 2-1.
The Pioneers extended their lead in the sixth inning with two runs scored off a single and two doubles, finalizing the score at 4-1.
Kendal Lehnen (Sherrill, N.Y. / Vernon Verona Sherrill) pitched a complete game for D'Youville, allowing 6 hits and 4 runs (3 earned) while recording 3 strikeouts.
Frankie Morris contributed a double and scored a run, finishing with a 1.667 OPS.
Shannon Howes (Palgrave, Ontario / St. Thomas Aquinas) had one hit in three at-bats, while
Leah Batterson drove in a run.
The second game proved to be a closely contested battle, extending into extra innings. The first four innings saw no runs from either side, with Malone eventually taking a 1-0 lead in the fifth on a sacrifice fly. D'Youville leveled the score in the sixth when
Shannon Howes singled, stole second, and scored on a double from
Danielle Fenlong (Georgetown, Ontario / Christ the King SS). Malone regained the lead at 2-1 with a double in the bottom of the sixth.
In the seventh inning,
Isabella Mancino hit a single, and Howes followed with a triple to tie the game at 2-2. D'Youville took a brief lead in the eighth inning, when
Mikayla Hussar (West Seneca, N.Y. / West Seneca West) walked and scored on a throwing error, however, Malone capitalized to secure the 4-3 victory in the bottom of the inning.
Summer Clark (Williamsville, N.Y. / Williamsville East) pitched 7 2/3 innings, allowing nine hits and four earned runs, striking out five batters.
Shannon Howes led D'Youville with three hits and two triples, scoring one run, while
Danielle Fenlong added two hits, including a double, and drove in one run.
Gabby Moreno (San Diego, Calif. / Rancho Buena Vista) also contributed with a double.
Up Next
In their next matchup, D'Youville will kick off ECC Conference play as the Saints travel to face St. Thomas Aquinas College on Friday, March 27, at 2:30 p.m. in Sparkill, New York.
