BUFFALO, N.Y. — D'Youville (14-14, 4-6) faced St. Thomas Aquinas (22-12, 12-2) in back-to-back matchups, falling 8–3 and 11–6 at Dobson Field. In the first game, despite outhitting their opponent with 11 hits, D'Youville could not capitalize after scoring three runs in the third inning.
D'Youville took an early lead with decisive plays in the third inning.
Gabby Moreno (San Diego, Calif. / Rancho Buena Vista) started the momentum with a single to center field, followed by
Shannon Howes' (Palgrave, Ontario / St. Thomas Aquinas) bunt single.
Mikayla Hussar (West Seneca, N.Y. / West Seneca West) reached on a fielder's choice, advancing Moreno to third.
Danielle Fenlong (Georgetown, Ontario / Christ the King) then singled to center, bringing Moreno home and advancing to second on a fielding error.
Frankie Morris (Lancaster, N.Y. / Lancaster) delivered a double to left field, driving in Fenlong and Hussar, giving D'Youville a 3–0 advantage after three innings.
However, STAC responded in the fifth inning. A throwing error by D'Youville's pitcher allowed three unearned runs, tying the game at 3–3. In the sixth inning, the Spartans continued their offensive push with a two-run homer, followed by another run scored on a groundout, giving them a 6–3 lead. STAC added two more runs in the seventh inning with a sacrifice bunt and a groundout, extending their lead to 8–3. The final score was St. Thomas Aquinas 8, D'Youville 3.
Summer Clark (Williamsville, N.Y. / Williamsville East) pitched a complete game for D'Youville, throwing all 7 innings. She allowed 8 hits and 5 earned runs, while striking out 3 batters and walking 1.
Danielle Fenlong led with three hits and added an RBI in her performance.
Frankie Morris contributed with two hits and drove in two runs, including a double.
Gabby Moreno collected two hits and scored a run while also drawing a walk.
In the second game, D'Youville fell to St. Thomas Aquinas 11–6. The Spartans opened the game strong with a four-run first inning, highlighted by two doubles. D'Youville responded with
Danielle Fenlong's double, followed by
Frankie Morris's RBI single, cutting the lead to 4–1 after the first inning.
In the second inning, D'Youville narrowed the gap with
Shannon Howes tripling to drive in
Sophia Arno (Clarence Center, N.Y. / The Brook Hill School), who reached on an error, making the score 4–2. STAC extended its lead in the third, adding three runs, including a two-RBI single. D'Youville kept pace with a response from
Annie Jorgenson (Victoria, B.C. / Belmont), who doubled to center field to score Morris, concluding the inning with a 7–3 lead for the Spartans.
D'Youville rallied in the fourth inning.
Jorja Sandilands (Brooklin, Ontario / Brooklin) doubled, bringing in three runs scored by Howes, Fenlong, and Morris, trimming the deficit to 7–6 in favor of STAC. However, the Spartans added two runs in the fifth, with a scoring play involving a throwing error and an RBI triple, pushing the score to 9–6. In the sixth inning, STAC scored another run with an RBI single from, while D'Youville was held scoreless, pushing the score to 10–6. STAC secured one final run in the seventh inning with an RBI single, concluding the game with a final score of 11–6.
Kendal Lehnen (Sherrill, N.Y. / Vernon Verona Sherrill) pitched 3 innings in the second game, allowing 7 earned runs on 8 hits, with 1 walk and 1 strikeout.
Hailee Jenkins (Ontario, Canada / Fenelon Falls) came on in relief, throwing 2 innings, conceding 1 earned run on 3 hits, while walking 2 batters and striking out 1.
Summer Clark finished the game with 2 innings, giving up 2 earned runs on 5 hits, while also recording 1 strikeout.
Danielle Fenlong contributed two runs and two hits, including a double, in her performance across both games.
Frankie Morris added two runs and one hit while also drawing two walks.
Jorja Sandilands drove in three runs with a double in the second game, showcasing her impact at the plate.
Shannon Howes tallied two hits and one run, highlighted by a triple.
Up Next
Looking ahead, D'Youville will face Mercy University on Sunday, April 19, at noon in Buffalo, N.Y.
