Center Valley, PA (April 18, 2015) – Senior Carly Bartholomew hit a three-run first inning home run in game one leading the DeSales University softball team to a game one victory and ultimately a split of a Freedom Conference doubleheader with King's College on Saturday afternoon.
 
Game One (W/6-2)
The Bulldogs (12-10, 10-2) scored three runs in both the first and second innings and that was all junior DJ McCauley needed as she scattered four hits over seven innings allowing just two runs and striking out seven to earn the win in the circle.
 
Bartholomew had the big blow in the first inning, a three-run shot with two outs to right center field.  In the second inning junior Emily Hockman knocked in the first run on a groundout, sophomore Alexa Beaumont plated junior Michelle Gessner with a single up the middle, and McCauley scored on a double steal attempt in which Beaumont was safe on an error at second base.
 
McCauley did not allow a base-runner over the final five innings, retiring the last 16 batters she faced in the win.  She was also on-base four times, with four walks and scored twice.
 
Game Two (L/3-5)
DSU took a 1-0 lead over the Lady Monarchs (10-11, 6-4 Freedom) in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI single by McCauley but KC took control in the third scoring four times to take a 4-1 lead.
 
The Bulldogs loaded the bases with no one out in the bottom of the inning but could only get one run out of on a sacrifice fly from junior Samantha Gibson and again loaded the bases with one out in the sixth inning but once again were only able to score one run in the inning and fell by a 5-3 score leaving eight runners on base, including four in the last two innings.
 
McCauley led the offense with two hits and Beaumont scored twice in the loss.  Senior Rachel Vogel took the loss allowing four runs over 2 1/3 innings pitched.  Freshman Andrea Artesani pitched well in relief allowing just one run over the final 4 2/3 innings.
 
Despite the split the Bulldogs moved into sole possession of first place in the Freedom Conference standings after Misericordia dropped both ends of a doubleheader with Eastern University.  DSU finishes its Freedom Conference schedule next weekend traveling to Wilkes University needing just two wins to clinch the top spot in the Freedom Conference Tournament the following weekend.
 
DeSales returns to action tomorrow when they host Susquehanna University in the final home games of the year beginning at 1:00 pm.