VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The Wilkes University softball team picked up a 6-3 win over University of Virginia-Wise before falling to Christopher Newport, 2-1 at the Beach Blast Tournament.
In the opener, first baseman Kirsty Ordile went 2-for-4 four with a pair of singles, driving in three runs, including a two-run single in the top of the seventh to help seal the victory for the Lady Colonels. As a team, Wilkes pounded out 10 hits while starter
Kaitlyn Kormanik (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) went the distance, giving up six hits, three runs – two of which were earned, while striking out five without walking a batter.
UVA-Wise opened the game with two runs in the first inning before the Lady Colonels tied the game in the fourth. Wilkes would take a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth before UVA-Wise followed with a run in the bottom of the frame. The Lady Colonels would take the lead for good in the sixth with a lone run before Ordile's clutch single in the seventh.
Four players had multiple hit games for Wilkes, which improved to 1-2 on the year, while
Gina Stefanelli (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Meyers) and
Kerry Finnerty (Old Forge, Pa./Old Forge) each had a run batted in.
In the second game, Christopher Newport broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the seventh on a bang-bang play at home plate which went in favor of the Captains. Christopher Newport led off the inning with a single and a sacrifice bunt, but an error by the Lady Colonels moved the runners to second and third. An intentional walk loaded the bases before the next batter hit a slow roller back to pitcher
Lindsay Behrenshausen (Mt. Holly Springs/Boiling Springs) who's throw to catcher
Erin Plank (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin East) was not in time.
The Lady Colonels took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth when
MeLisa Bracone (Farmingville, N.Y./Sachem East) hit a solo shot to account for Wilkes' lone run of the game. Bracone finished with two of the team's three hits. The Captains would tie the game in the bottom of the sixth with a single followed by a stolen base and an RBI double.
Wilkes fell to 1-3 on the year and will take on Peace College in a double header starting at 10 a.m.
