Annville, PA (March 22, 2025) - The DeSales University softball team split their MAC Freedom opener doubleheader at Lebanon Valley dropping game one, 8-7, before winning game two, 6-5 on Saturday afternoon.

Game One (L/7-8)
A five-run first inning by the Flying Dutchmen saw the Bulldogs trail 5-0 early. However, DSU's offense would wake up in the third inning as they get on the board with an RBI single from first-year Gianna Angermeier. Sophomore Paige Hromin followed up with a two-RBI double to draw the Bulldogs closer at 5-3. The rally continued with first-year Kylie Llewellyn hitting a single to center that scored Hromin and as a result of a throwing error by the Flying Dutchmen senior Tori Kenney would come across to score as well to tie the game up at five. DSU would take the lead on double play to go up 6-5 after three innings. 

Angermeier provided DSU some insurance in the fourth on an RBI groundout that brought in first-year Katie Sharkey to push the lead up to 7-5. A fielding error committed by the Bulldogs in the bottom of the fourth inning allowed LVC to take advantage and make it a one-run game one again. 

LVC scored the game-tying run in the fifth and hit a go-head home run in the sixth inning to retake the lead (8-7), as the Bulldogs were not able to put together one final rally and dropped game one. 

Junior Riley Long was charged with the loss in game one pitching five and 2/3 innings scattering seven hits and allowing two earned runs. 

Sophomore Kiara Castera finished 2-for-4 with one run scored, Hromin went 2-for4 with two RBIs and one run scored, and Sharkey went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. 

Game Two (W/6-5)
DSU put the game's first runs on the board in the third inning as they put together a five-run inning. Castera, Kenney, and junior Ava Goodman each had RBI singles while Hromin had an RBI double as part of the five-run third. 

LVC got on the board in the bottom of the third to cut the lead down to four but in the fifth inning Goodman pushed the Bulldog advantage back up to five on an RBI double. 

The Flying Dutchmen made things interesting scoring once in the sixth and put together a rally in the seventh but were only able to score three runs in the final inning as the Bulldogs held on for the 8-7 win to salvage game two of the doubleheader. 

Senior Rachel Lowry earned the win pitching a complete game allowing three earned runs while striking out seven through seven innings of work. 

Castera finished 3-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored. Senior Madison Kelly went 3-for-4 and Goodman went 2-for-3 with two RBIs in the win. 

The Bulldogs are back in action on Tuesday when they host local rival Muhlenberg College for a non-conference doubleheader with game one set to begin at 3:00 pm.