NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — D'Youville split their Senior Day doubleheader with Queens on Sunday at Sal Maglie Stadium, as the veteran-led Saints lineup fueled a 2-1 win in the opener before falling in game two, 11-6.
With all nine starters in the lineup for game one consisting of seniors and redshirt juniors, D'Youville (16-28, 11-15 ECC) secured a narrow victory behind a dominant outing from starting pitcher Ty Graczyk. The right-hander was in complete control, tossing seven scoreless innings while allowing just four hits and striking out seven without issuing a walk, earning his third win of the season.
Cooper Cefaratti provided the early spark for the Saints, launching a solo home run in the fourth inning to break a scoreless tie. Later in the fifth, Billy Morris and Colby Wilson each singled to set the table before Garett Wilson drove in Morris with a base hit to extend the lead to 2-0.
The Saints bullpen held firm late, despite a ninth-inning push from Queens. Mihir Manerikar allowed one run before Morris entered and shut the door, striking out two to secure the save and complete the 2-1 win. Morris also contributed at the plate with two hits, part of a balanced offensive effort on a day that celebrated the program's senior class.
Game two saw the Saints jump out to another early lead, but Queens responded with a late surge to earn the split. D'Youville struck first in the second inning when Jacob Cooper doubled to score Blaise Kolbert, and the Saints extended the advantage to 2-0 in the third as Morris came around to score.
After Queens tied the game in the fourth, D'Youville answered. Morris delivered an RBI single and Colby Wilson followed with a run-scoring knock to put the Saints back in front, 4-2. Derek Onevelo added to the lead in the fifth, tripling and scoring on a wild pitch to make it 5-2.
Evan Froelich gave the Saints a solid start on the mound, allowing three earned runs over 4.1 innings with three strikeouts and no walks. However, the Knights chipped away with runs in the fifth and sixth before taking control in the seventh with a three-run double that flipped the game.
Queens broke it open in the eighth with four more runs, including a two-run home run, to extend the lead to 11-5. D'Youville added one final run in the ninth, as Morris came home on a wild pitch, but the comeback effort fell short.
Morris led the Saints offense in game two, finishing with three hits and two runs scored. Cooper collected a pair of hits, including a double and an RBI. Colby Wilson added two hits and an RBI of his own, and Onevelo tripled ands scored in a solid offensive effort.
The split capped a meaningful Senior Day for D'Youville, finishing off their final home game of the season at Sal Maglie Stadium.
Next up for the Saints, they'll be on the road for the final time in the regular season for a four-game series with St. Thomas Aquinas College starting on Thursday, April 30th.
