Center Valley, PA (April 24, 2024) - Junior Rachel Lowry tossed her first career no-hitter and the DeSales University softball team scored five runs in sixth inning of game two completing a DH sweep over Eastern University in non-conference action on Wednesday evening.

Both teams learned before the game they were included in the NCAA Division III Regional Rankings released this afternoon for the first time this season. DSU is among the top seven teams in Region IV and Eastern among the top seven teams in Region V. The sweep improves DSU's record to 24-10 on the season, while the Eagles fall to 25-6 on the season.

Game One (W/1-0)
Lowry was the story in this one pitting two of the best pitchers in the entire country against each other.  She allowed just two base runners, a leadoff walk that was stranded at third in the third inning, and a one-out walk in the seventh inning. She struck out four to earn her 14th win of the season.

DSU got the lone run of the game in the second inning when first-year Paige Hromin worked a 15-pitch walk, stole second base, and scored when fellow first-year Kiara Castera hit a single to centerfield.

The win is Lowry's 30th of her career moving her into sixth place all-time.  It is the second straight year DeSales softball has thrown a no-hitter after sophomore Riley Long tossed one last season during the team's spring break trip.

Game Two (W/7-2)
Eastern took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning of the second game.  The Bulldogs tied the game in the bottom half of the fourth as sophomore Morgan Benner singled to leadoff the inning and scored two batters later on RBI from senior Alexys Vernier.  Senior Victoria Agnoli tied the game on an RBI single from junior Tori Kenney but DeSales left some meat on the bone stranding the bases loaded with no outs.

It remained tied heading into the sixth when the Bulldogs exploded for five runs on seven hits to take a 7-2 lead. Hromin, Castera, sophomore Ava Goodman, Agnoli, and Kenney all had RBIs in the inning.

Junior Alanna Hartzell did the rest finishing off a complete-game win allowing just two runs and seven hits to record her seventh win of the year. 

Benner finished 3-for-4 at the plate and turned a double play in the top of the seventh to end a one-out threat.  Kenney also had three hits and knocked in two runs.

The Bulldogs are back in action on Saturday when they travel to King's College for the final MAC Freedom doubleheader of the regular season beginning at 1:00 pm.