EDWARDSVILLE – The Wilkes University softball team was able to extend its current winning streak to seven games by taking both ends of a non-conference doubleheader against Susquehanna University at the Ralston Athletic Complex Wednesday night. The Colonels won game one 5-4 on a walk off wild pitch and took game two by a 3-1 score.

Wilkes improved to 24-13 overall with the victories and Susquehanna, out of the Landmark Conference, dropped to 18-15.

The Colonels had to come from behind to take game one in exciting fashion. The River Hawks went ahead with an unearned run in the top of the second inning. Wilkes would waste little time in tying the score after Gracen Staunton (Kernersville, NC/Northwest Guilford) led off the bottom of the frame with a double off the left centerfield wall. Staunton then moved to third on a two-out wild pitch with Haley Boyd (Escalon, CA/Escalon) at the plate. Boyd then walked and was attempting to steal second when the catcher's throw went into centerfield allowing Staunton to come in to tie the game at 1-1 on the error.

A Brittany Hebda home run gave Susquehanna a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning. The River Hawks then added two more unearned runs in the fifth inning to take a 4-1 lead. Rhiannon Aurand (Avondale, PA/Avon Grove) entered to pitch and recorded the final out of the fifth inning in relief of the starter Staunton.

Caitlin Brown (Glen Cove, NY/Glen Cove) started a two-out rally for the Colonels in the bottom of the fifth as she singled to right. Jaime Martin (Bridgeton, NJ/Cumberland Regional) then pinch ran for Brown and moved to second when Erin Cabry (York, PA/Central York) reached on a fielding error by the shortstop. Staunton then made the visitors pay for the two-out error as the junior smacked a three-run home run over the left field fence to tie the score at 4-4. The home run counted as the 100th career hit for Staunton as well.

Aurand then worked two consecutive three-up, three-down innings for the Colonels in the circle which provided Wilkes with the chance for the walk-off win in the bottom of the seventh. Jordyn Kondras (Willow Street, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) singled to start the inning but was erased when Gab Giordano (Moscow, PA/Holy Cross) reached on a fielder's choice play. Brown was then hit by a pitch and Cabry reached on a fielding error by the second baseman to load the bases. After a pop out Sarah Gibson (Chico, CA/Pleasant Valley) came to the plate with two outs. The junior worked the count and Gabby Bubba threw a wild pitch that allowed Giordano to race home and slide headfirst to the plate for the winning run.

Aurand improved to 6-3 with the victory as the freshman went the final 2.1 innings without allowing a baserunner. Staunton earned the no decision as she went 4.2 innings allowing four runs (one earned) on three hits and five strikeouts. Bubba took the loss for Susquehanna as she pitched 6.2 innings allowing five runs (zero earned) on seven hits and seven strikeouts.

Staunton finished game one 2-for-4 with three RBI's and two runs scored. Kondras also had a multi-hit game as she finished 2-for-3.

Cabry provided the Colonels with a third-inning 2-0 lead in game two as she hit her second home run of the season to bring in Kondras who singled to start the inning.

Kondras again singled to start the fifth inning and would later come into score when Staunton hit one sharply to center as the Colonels lead grew to 3-0.

Celine Podlesney (Hazle Twp., PA/Hazleton) pitched a terrific game as she entered the seventh inning only allowing two hits. A one-out error gave the River Hawks some life as that runner eventually came into score. Podlesney was able to stay calm and got the final batter to pop out with the tying runs in scoring position. The junior improved to 9-5 on the season as she went 7.0 innings allowing one unearned run on four hits with three strikeouts.

Kondras went 2-for-3 with two runs scored while Cabry (2 RBI), Staunton (1 RBI), Gibson, Podlesney, Brown and Boyd all collected one hit apiece.

The Colonels close out the regular season with an important Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom doubleheader at FDU-Florham on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. One win by the Colonels would clinch their spot in the conference tournament which will be held at the Ralston Athletic Complex on Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4.