Fayetteville, NC (February 18, 2017) - The DeSales University baseball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon falling to Bridgewater College, 9-8, and Methodist University, 12-5, to open the 2017 season.

Game One
The Bulldogs (0-2) took 1-0 lead in the first inning as senior Tyler Sweeney plated fellow senior Tommy DePaul but BC (1-0) scored twice in the second and third inning to open up a 4-1 lead.

That lead stood into the sixth inning when DeSales tied the game at four on RBIs from junior Danny Licamara, sophomore Preston Amato, and junior Hunter Hart.  The Bulldogs then took control of the game scoring four times in the seventh inning on another RBI from Licamara, a two-RBI double from Amato, and an RBI double from Hart to make it 8-4.

It was still a four-run game into the bottom of the eighth inning when Bridgewater plated three runs to cut the margin down to a run.  After DSU stranded a leadoff single in the top of the ninth, BC drew a leadoff walk that scored one batter later a double.  After a groundout moving the runner to third base with one out the Bulldogs intentionally walked the next two hitters setting up a force at home but BC's Jacob Talley was able to send a deep fly ball to centerfield plating the winning run, giving Bridgewater a 9-8 win.

Freshman John Poccia took the loss allowing two runs in one inning of relief.  Amato and Hart each had two hits leading a nine-hit attack.  Senior Tyler Cooperman pitched well allowing just three runs over 4 1/3 innings of relief. The Bulldogs stole five bases in the loss.

Game Two
After falling behind 1-0 DSU scored once in the third inning on an RBI single from DePaul and twice in the fifth on another RBI single from DePaul and RBI base hit from senior Richie Lancshire to take a 3-1 lead thru 4 and a half innings.

Methodist then took control scoring six times in the fifth and three times in the sixth to take a 10-3 lead and never looked back.

DePaul finished the game 3-for-5 with four RBIs, including a two-run home run in the seventh inning.

Amato earns TW Cooper Insurance Player of the Day honors scoring three times and registering three hits in the two games.

The Bulldogs are back at it tomorrow when they take on the University of Mary Washington at Methodist.