Clermont, FL (March 4, 2014) – The DeSales University softball team opened its eight-game five-day spring trip with one win in its first four games before enjoying an off day on Tuesday down in Clermont, FL this week.

Below are brief recaps of the first four games:

Game One:
Emerson – 3, DeSales – 1
The Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when sophomore Michelle Gessner doubled and scored one batter later on an Emerson error, but EC scored twice in the third and once more in the sixth to earn the win as the DeSales bats went silent.  DSU left two runners on in both the sixth and seventh innings.  Sophomore DJ McCauley suffered the loss allowing just four hits and two earned runs over seven innings, striking out six.

Game Two:
Adrian – 4, DeSales – 2
DSU again took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a solo home run from McCauley and led 2-1 after four innings when sophomore Samantha Gibson doubled and scored in the fourth, but Adrian scored three times in the fifth and held on for the win.  Senior Brittany Wilson took the loss allowing eight hits and three earned runs over 4.2 innings pitched.

Game Three:
DeSales – 3, Grove City – 1
Junior Rachel Vogel earned her first start of the season and was outstanding allowing just three hits and one run, striking out nine, in a complete-game win for the Bulldogs.  DSU trailed 1-0 in this game before scoring solo runs in the second, sixth, and seventh innings.  Vogel retired the side in order four times.  Junior Kayla Adanalian had an RBI single in the second, McCauley an RBI single in the sixth, and Gessner an RBI single in the seventh.  McCauley finished 3-for-3 at the plate in the win.

Game Four:
Susquehanna – 3, DeSales – 2
In a rematch of an NCAA Tournament game last season the Crusaders held on late for a 3-2 win over the Bulldogs.  SU scored all three of its runs in the second inning off McCauley who surrendered seven hits over four innings pitched.  Wilson came on to allow just one hit over the final three innings.  DSU rallied with one run in the fourth on an RBI groundout from freshman Alexa Beaumont and an RBI single from Gibson in the sixth and thought they had the tying run in the seventh when McCauley hit a deep fly ball that miraculously run down by the Crusader centerfielder thwarting the threat.

The Bulldogs return to action on Wednesday and Thursday for four more games before returning to campus over the weekend.