game one    game two

MADISON, N.J. – The Wilkes University softball team pounded out 22 hits, including six for extra bases, as the Lady Colonels pulled out an important sweep over FDU-Florham. Wilkes won the first game 9-4 before winning the night cap 7-1.

The two victories even the Lady Colonels record at 4-4 in Freedom Conference play and they have now won three of their last four games.

In the first game, all but two players in the lineup reached on a hit, while five had multi-hit games, including a 3-for-4 performance by Kristy Ordile (Bellmawr, N.J./Triton Regional), who drove in three runs and scored two of her own. She hit a three-run blast in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game at four for her first round-tripper of the season.

The Devils struck early, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first off a three-run homer by Kristin Ippolito. FDU picked up three of its seven hits in the inning.

The Lady Colonels would cut into the lead in the third inning when Amanda Holston (Georgetown, Del./Sussex Central) doubled plating Ordile, who reached on a one-out single. After Ordile's homer in the sixth, Wilkes blew the game open with five runs in the seventh inning thanks to five hits, including a two-run home run by Gina Stefanelli (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Meyers).

Holston led off the inning with a single and was moved to second on a grounder by Kathy Dalton (Neptune, N.J./St. Rose). Stefanelli's team-best fourth homer of the year gave the Lady Colonels the lead for good. MeLisa Bracone (Farmingville, N.Y./Sachem East) would keep the rally going with a single before Lindsay Behrenshausen (Mt. Holly Springs/Boiling Springs) reached on an error setting the table for Alyssa Ciesla (Branchville, N.J./High Point), who hit a three-run blast to cap off the inning. It was Ciesla's first round-tripper and ninth RBI of the season.

The second game was much like the first as the Lady Colonels busted out for five runs in their final at-bat off four hits, including a two-run homer by Dalton. She would finish the game by going 2-for-4 with three RBI along with catcher Erin Plank (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin East) who drove in three runs as well.

Wilkes broke a scoreless tie in the third inning when Dalton drove in Sarah Miller (Wyoming, Pa./Bishop Hoban) on a fielder's choice. Miller started the inning with a single before advancing to second on a wild pitch. A fly out to right field by Holston allowed Miller to reach third before crossing home on Dalton's at-bat.

FDU answered in the bottom of the inning after picking up three hits in the inning and took advantage of a Wilkes error.

The Lady Colonels would take the lead for good in the sixth thanks to back-to-back errors by the Devils. Stefanelli, who reached on an error, would come around to score on a ground out by Bracone.

The seventh inning saw the Lady Colonels get a pair of RBI from Dalton and Plank, while Ciesla hit an RBI single. Four of their eight hits on the game came in the seventh, which proved to be more than enough for Behrenshausen, who picked up both wins.

Behrenshausen struck out 12 while giving up four earned runs to move to 6-3 on the year.

As a team, Wilkes is now 10-12 overall and 4-4 in Freedom Conference action.