The Misericordia University softball team used excellent pitching by Bailee Schies and Alissa Steier as they held DeSales to one run through two games at Anderson Field Saturday afternoon.

MU won the first game handily, 7-1, before pulling out a tight 1-0 victory to seal the sweep.

Schies went the distance in the first game, allowing three hits (none until the sixth), one run, with nine strikeouts and two walks.

MU got the on the board in the bottom of the first when Melissa Parker drove a 1-1 pitch into left field to score Melanie Quintanilla from third.

The Cougars would expand on their lead in the fifth.

Quintanilla roped a single into center field, advanced to second on a wild pitch and then got to third on a Abby Marzzacco groundout.

Lori Brennan walked to put runners at the corners before Melissa Parker smashed a double to left, scoring Quintanilla and leaving runners at second and third.

Caitlin Kennedy got in on the action with a single to center which scored Brennan and put Parker at third.

Whitney Ellenberg reached on an error by the shortstop which allowed Parker to score.

Next, Jessica Pluta singled to center to load the bases before Diana Kestenbaum blasted an double which cleared the bases and put the Cougars up 7-1.

DeSales scored their lone run in the sixth.

The Bulldogs led off the top of the seventh with a single before Schies struck out the side to the end the game.

Kestenbaum went 2-3 with a double and three RBI while Parker went 2-3 with a double and two RBI.

Steier took the mound in the second game for the Cougars, she tossed a complete game shutout, scattering seven hits while striking out five.

The Cougars only had three hits in the game, but one of them was a solo shot to center by Ellenberg which gave MU the lone run of the game.

The Cougars are now 6-6, 2-0 in the MAC Freedom.

They will host SUNY Cobleskill, Tuesday at 3:00.