GLENSIDE, Pa. - The Arcadia University softball team advanced to the semifinals of the MAC Freedom Championship Tournament with a double-header sweep over DeSales University on Saturday afternoon. Shannon Shea plated the game-winning run in the opener, while the Knights offense exploded for nine runs in the finale. Morgan Marchesani, Brooke Ward and Alexis Burge all tallied two RBI to lead the Knights past the Bulldogs.

Kylee Schwind, Brenna Dolan and Juliana Presto combined for 12 scoreless innings on the afternoon. Schwind and Dolan were both stellar in their respective starts, while Presto struck out five batters in three innings of relief. The first-year pitcher also eclipsed the 100 single-season strikeout milestone to expand her conference-leading total to 102 strikeouts. She currently ranks sixth all-time on the program's single-season strikeout leaderboard - despite playing in a shortened season.  

ARCADIA 1, DESALES 0
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Schwind cruised through the first five innings with limited threats. The graduate student allowed just one hit to keep the Bulldogs off the base paths. Presto entered the game in the sixth inning, while striking out five of seven batters faced for the game. 

- Alex DeStefano and Madi Costigan got the Knights going with back-to-back bunt singles to lead off the sixth inning. Alexa Vardiman later worked a two-out walk to load the bases. Shea came through for the Knights with a clutch pinch-hit single through the right side of the infield to plate the game's lone run, 1-0. 

KNIGHTS OFFENSIVE LEADERS
- Shea: 1-1, RBI
- Costigan: 1-2, R

KNIGHTS PITCHING LEADERS
- Schwind: 5.0 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 SO
- Presto: W (7-4), 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 5 SO

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ARCADIA 9, DESALES 0
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After Dolan retired the Bulldogs in order to open the game, the Knights answered with five runs in the bottom of the frame. Burge opened the scoring with a two-run homer to right field. Megan Sooy then singled to the shortstop and advanced into scoring position on a double from Vardiman. Kayla Pscolka plated Sooy with a ground out, while Effie Jamanis doubled to left field to score Vardiman. Marchesani capped off the scoring with a triple to left center, 5-0.

- Marchesani made a fantastic play in the field to help her pitcher out of a third inning jam. The third baseman fielded a ground ball towards the third base line, stepped on the bag for one out and then fired a strike across the diamond for the inning-ending double play. Marchesani added on another run with a RBI ground out in the bottom of the inning, 6-0.

- The Knights plated three runs in the fourth to put the game out of reach. Jackie Zwicker reached base on an error to plate the first runner, while Ward drove home two runs with a double to left field, 9-0.

KNIGHTS OFFENSIVE LEADERS
- Burge: 2-3, 2 RBI, HR
- Marchesani: 1-2, 2 RBI, 3B
- Ward: 1-3, 2 RBI, 2B

KNIGHTS PITCHING LEADERS
- Dolan: W (5-1), 4 IP, 0 R, 5 H, 5 SO
- Presto: 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H

UP NEXT
The Knights (20-10) battle Stevens Institute of Technology in the MAC Freedom semifinals on Saturday, May 8.