PHILADELPHIA – With a runner on second base and her team down by one, sophomore Ashley Mendenhall sent the first pitch she faced over the wall in center field for the eventual game-winning homerun on Sunday afternoon as the La Salle softball team (9-25, 2-10 A-10) took down Dayton (21-10, 8-4 A-10), 8-7. The win is the first over UD since 2014 and first in Philadelphia since 2009.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The home team took an early 1-0 lead in the first as senior Emma Schweigert drove in a run with a groundout.
• Dayton took the lead in the second as two runners scored on a failed pickoff attempt.
• Freshman Kaylee Piven tied the game with an RBI groundout in the third.
• The Flyers added three runs in fourth on one hit and two errors for a 5-2 advantage.
• Junior Courtney Shupp entered the game late and made the most of her only at-bat, smashing a three-run jack to left field to tie the game at five apiece.
• UD regained the lead in the sixth with two solo homers for a 7-5 margin.
• In the home half, back-to-back double to lead off the inning from junior Emily Conaway and freshman Natalie Rios had La Salle down by one when Mendenhall came to the plate.

INSIDE THE CIRCLE:

• Sophomore Morgan Orlowski started the game and faired well. The right hander gave up just two earned runs on seven hits and a pair of walks, while striking out one.
• Freshman Cailey Joyce (6-10) entered in relief and claimed the victory. Joyce tossed two scoreless innings and struck out three.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Mendenhall finished with a pair of hits with the homer highlighting her stat line.
• Conaway also corralled two hits with a double, two runs scored, and a walk.
• Rios was a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate with two doubles, two RBIs, two runs, and a walk.
• Shupp had the homer run and a walk.

UP NEXT:
La Salle heads to George Mason for a three-game series on Friday and Saturday. The Explorers and Patriots will play a doubleheader on Friday and a single game on Saturday.