Wilkes-Barre, PA (May 2, 2015) – Sophomore Alexa Beaumont hit two home runs and knocked in three runs leading the DeSales University softball team past Misericordia University, 5-3, as the Bulldogs won their third Freedom Conference Softball Championship.
 
Beaumont earned MVP honors finishing 4-for-8 for the championship knocking in a team-high four runs, including those two home runs on Saturday.
 
The Bulldogs (17-13) earn the Freedom Conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament with the win and will find out where and when they play next weekend on Monday morning when the NCAA reveals its entire bracket.  The NCAA Regional will start on either Thursday or Friday pending DSU's site of competition.
 
Misericordia (26-15) struck first on Saturday scoring once in the first inning on triples by Whitney Ellenberg and Sam Hare and once in the fourth inning on a solo home run from Melissa Parker.
 
Beaumont got DSU on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning hitting a solo shot to left center cutting the deficit down to one run.  After junior DJ McCauley stranded two runners in the fifth the Bulldogs offense went to work.
 
Senior Annie Cosentino reached on an error by Ellenberg and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from senior Kayla Adanalian.  Juniors Michelle Gessner and Emily Hockman then hit back-to-back doubles scoring two runs giving DSU a 3-2 lead.
 
After McCauley popped out to short, Beaumont made it 5-2 Bulldogs with a laser shot to left center field, her second homer of the game.
 
Misericordia threatened again in the sixth getting a lead-off double but McCauley again stranded two runners on base and DSU was unable to add to its lead in the bottom of the inning.
 
In the top of the seventh the Cougars loaded the bases with one out when Lori Brennan hit a sacrifice fly to right field in which all three runners moved up a base and MU had the tying run in scoring position with two outs but McCauley got Andi Veneziale to strike out as the Bulldogs celebrated their third title.
 
McCauley earned her third complete-game win of the playoffs scattering nine hits and allowing just three runs, striking out five.  McCauley is now 6-0 in her career in the Freedom Conference post-season after also going 3-0 as a freshman in 2013.