Tucson, AZ (March 8, 2013) – After sweeping both games on the first day the DeSales University softball team finished its trip with doubleheader splits on each of the last three days to post a 5-3 record in its eight-game four-day trip out to Tucson, AZ during spring break.

Below is a recap of each of the Bulldogs final six games:
St. Mary's (MN) – 3, DeSales – 2
St. Mary's took a 2-0 lead in the first but the Bulldogs responded tying the game in the top of the second before St. Mary's broke the 2-2 tie in the sixth and DSU was unable to tie it up in the seventh.  Six different players had hits in the loss including sophomore Carly Bartholomew with one hit and two RBIs.  Freshman DJ McCauley suffered the loss striking out seven over six innings allowing seven hits and walking four.

DeSales – 9, Iowa Wesleyan – 5
The Bulldogs scored five times in the bottom of the first inning to take a 5-1 lead and led 7-2 after three innings in recording its third win of the trip and its second over Iowa Wesleyan.  McCauley, senior Julie Brugger, and freshman Emily Hockman each had two hits in the win with Brugger, Bartholomew and Hockman each knocking in two runs.  Sophomore Ericka Esposito earned the win scattering six hits over three innings of relief work allowing three unearned runs and striking out one.

Iowa Wesleyan – 2, DeSales – 1
In the third meeting of the week between these two teams, IWC finally got in the win column, scratching out a 2-1 walk-off win with a solo run in the bottom of the seventh inning.  DSU's lone run came in the fourth giving the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead on an RBI hit from McCauley but DeSales was unable to make the lead stand.  Sophomore Rachel Vogel took the loss allowing nine hits and two runs over six innings of work striking out two.

DeSales – 3, St. Mary's (MN) – 2
The Bulldogs exacted revenge for a loss to St. Mary's the day before with a 3-2 win in the second match-up.  Trailing 2-0 entering the sixth inning, the Bulldogs scored once in the sixth and twice in the seventh to earn the walk-off win.  Brugger and sophomore Shelby Wilson each had two hits, while senior Courtney McKenna and freshman Michelle Gessner knocked in runs in the win.  McCauley and senior Brittany Wilson combined to allow just four hits over seven innings.  McCauley struck out six and Wilson earned her second win of the trip with two scoreless innings in relief.

Howard Payne – 11, DeSales – 2
DeSales took a 1-0 lead in the second inning but then the wheels fell off as Howard Payne scored six times in the third and five times in the fourth inning, winning 11-2 in five innings over the Bulldogs.  DSU made three errors leading to eight of the 11 runs being unearned.  McCauley and freshman Sam Gibson each had two hits in the loss.  Esposito took the loss allowing four hits and five runs over 2.2 innings pitched.

DeSales – 2, Robert Morris – 1
The Bulldogs ended its trip on a high note, recording a 2-1 win over Robert Morris in another low scoring game.  DSU lead 2-0 after three innings with solo runs in the first and the third.  RMU got on the board in the sixth but that was it as McCauley earned her second win of the trip allowing just four hits and one unearned run over seven innings, striking out five and not issuing a walk.  Brugger had two hits and knocked in both runs in the win.  Gessner also had two hits and scored both runs.

Overall, Brugger led the team at the plate batting .429 with five RBIs and McCauley was terrific in her Bulldog debut batting .400 with a team-high 10 hits and posting a 2-1 record with a 0.84 ERA in 25 innings pitched, striking out 20 and opponents' batting just .163 off her.  S. Wilson batted .320 and Gessner scored a team-high nine runs with a team-high four doubles.  B. Wilson was 2-0 in the circle with a 0.00 ERA in seven innings pitched allowing just seven hits and striking out two.

The Bulldogs will return to action on Saturday, March 16th when they open Freedom Conference play at home vs. Misericordia University beginning at 1:00 pm.