DAYTON, Ohio – Opening the final conference series of the 2026 season, the Saint Joseph's softball team was upended in a pitcher's duel, 2-0, by the Dayton Flyers on Friday afternoon.
Both
Julia Shearer and Dayton's Izzy Kemp were outstanding in the circle. Scoreless into the fourth, the Flyers scratched across a run in the bottom of the frame. UD looked to get one more in the inning, but
Meghan Sinkus came up with a perfect throw to the plate to cut down the runner for the third out.
After the Flyers scored again in the fifth, the Hawks loaded the bases in the sixth. With two outs, SJU drove a ball to the warning track, but it was hauled in on the run by the Dayton centerfielder to end the threat.
St. Joe's made sure UD didn't extend the lead in the bottom of the frame as
Haley McMenamin made a sliding catch on a bunt and threw back to first for a double play. The next batter hit a sinking line drive to left, but
Riley York was there to make a diving catch going towards the foul line.
Shearer went the distance for the seventh time this season, tossing six innings. She did not walk a batter and struck out six.
The teams wrap the series with a doubleheader tomorrow. First pitch in game one is scheduled for noon with the second game set for approximately 2:30 p.m.
