BUFFALO, NY- The Franciscan University softball team lost their strong start in an away doubleheader against Medaille College and dropped both games, 13-5 and 18-4.

FUS started their play solidly, holding off the Lady Mavs for the first two innings of the first game. They went into the third inning leading 4-1. Medaille then came back and never let go of the lead, winning by eight runs.

"It was obviously a less than spectacular game," head coach Jen Parker said. "For me it was surprising. It was our usual struggles, only worse. After coming off yesterday's strong second game, it was surprising to see the games go this way."

After an exciting second game on Saturday, finishing their week with two more tough games was not something the Lady Barons wanted or intended to do. Their fielding was less than stellar as they committed six errors in the first game.

The second game was also unsuccessful, playing out similarly to the first. FUS led in the first inning but lost it immediately to the Lady Mavs after their first at-bat. Franciscan was never able to come back and surrendered another game to Medaille.

Highlights from the batter's box included senior captain Amanda Ruwart's three-run home run in the first inning of the first game as well as sophomore Becca Peter's three-run home run in the second game. These homers are the first of the season for Ruwart and Peters.

After these unsuccessful games, the Lady Barons must evaluate their weaknesses to improve their play.

"Trying to figure out our problems and fine tune them has been a struggle and that is really what we are trying to focus on now," Parker said. "At this point it is almost all mental and we really need to push through that."

FUS will move onto a new virtue with the new week of softball, maintaining the resolve from this past week in hopes of progress for the team. The Lady Barons will continue their season in Cresson, Pennsylvania against Mt. Aloysius on Wednesday, April 10, at 3 and 5 p.m.