MERION STATION, Pa. - The Saint Joseph's softball team dropped both games of its series-opening doubleheader against Dayton on Saturday afternoon at the SJU Softball Field. The Hawks dropped the opener 7-1 and fell 9-0 in the nightcap.

Dayton got on the board in the top of the first plating two runs on two hits and a walk against SJU starter Madison Clarke.

The Hawks (20-11, 6-4 Atlantic 10) cut their deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the third as a bloop double to left field by Brandi Harkness scored Madeline Brunck.

Dayton would add two runs in the fifth and three more in the seventh to earn the 7-1 win.

Clarke fell to 15-3 on the year after allowing six earned runs over seven innings while striking out two.

Isabella Picard finished 2-for-2 in the opener, while Harkness was 1-for-4 with a RBI.

In game two, the Flyers tallied runs in the second and third to open a 2-0 lead against game two starter Nikki Alden.

Dayton (27-11, 11-2 A-10) broke the game open with four runs in the fourth and three in the seventh as the Flyers' starter Manda Cash kept SJU off the board allowing just five hits over seven innings.

The Hawks and Flyers cap the three-game series Sunday at noon.