LONDON, Ont. – Durham College women's softball got the start they wanted this season as they swept their opening doubleheader on Saturday at Fanshawe College.
 
The Lords won the opener 3-0, followed by a 7-2 victory at Stronach Park.
 
In the first game Durham got off to a quick start as lead-off hitter Cassidy Gallant was walked. She stole second before advancing to third when Tara Robinson grounded out. Gallant scored on a passed ball with Rebecca Ropp at the plate.
 
Neither team would score again until Durham added two more runs in the top of the sixth inning. Starting pitcher Caitlyn Omelanchuk led off the inning with a single. After a Megan McDonald fly out, Justine Pike reached base on a walk.
 
Meaghan Maddington followed with another fly out to bring up Chloe Crawford with two on and two out. After Crawford fouled off a few pitches, Omelanchuk and Pike advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. Crawford then picked up a pair of RBIs with a double to left-centre field.
 
The score stayed a 3-0 for the remainder of the game as Omelanchuk was credited with the win in her complete game shutout. She allowed six hits over seven innings, while striking out nine batters.
 
Alanna Gilmour took the loss for Fanshawe. She pitched seven innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits, while walking three batters.
 
Crawford led the team at the plate going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.
 
Moving to the second half of the doubleheader, Durham was facing a familiar face as former Lord, Lydia Kalbfleisch, was on the mound for the Falcons.
 
Kalbfleisch kept her former team from scoring in the top half of the first inning before her current team took a 2-0 lead after one.
 
In the third the Lords tied the game off hits by Gallant, Robinson and McDonald. Their offence continued in the fourth as they added two more runs to go ahead 4-2. Ropp's triple led off the fourth before a walk by Ropp. Maddington brought them both home with a double.
 
Durham didn't allow any more runs from the Falcons as they added two more runs in the sixth and one in the seventh en route to their 7-2 victory. Crawford led the offence going 2-for-2 with two runs scored, while Maddington was 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
 
Emma Greer picked up the win. Through six innings pitched she allowed two runs on six hits and two walks, while striking out two. Omelanchuk gave up two hits in her lone inning of relief.
 
Kalbfleisch took the loss for Fanshawe after allowing three earned runs on seven hits over six innings pitched. She struck out two and walked one batter. Janelle Brown gave up one run on one hit in one inning of action.
 
The Lords will now face the St. Clair Saints on Sunday afternoon in Windsor. Their doubleheader gets underway at 12 p.m.
 
QUICK LOOK AT THE LORDS
Overall Record: 4-2
Conference Record: 2-0
 
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 13 @ St. Clair Saints