game one box score
game two box score

The Wilkes University softball team came through in the clutch as it swept a double header from Alvernia. The Lady Colonels came back from a 3-0 deficit in the first game to win 5-3 in extra innings before taking the second 6-3.

With the Lady Colonels trailing in the bottom of the sixth inning, pinch hitter Cori Saltzer (Harrisburg/Central Dauphin East) tied the game with a three-run homer scoring Rachel Miller (Wyoming, Pa./Holy Redeemer), who reached on a walk, and Sue Ekstrom, who hit a double.

The heroics didn't stop there for Wilkes in the bottom of the eighth when a runner was placed on second base to start the inning because of the international tie-break rule. Gina Stefanelli (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Meyers), the Lady Colonels first hitter of the inning, hit a walk-off home run over the center field wall to give the Lady Colonels a 5-3 win.

Despite committing five errors defensively Wilkes starter Megan Gershey (Lake Ariel, Pa./Western Wayne) allowed three runs, only one of which was earned while striking out five for her second win of the season.

In the second game, Alvernia struck first once again as they put up a run in the top of the first, but Wilkes answered by tying the game in the bottom of the frame. The Lady Colonels exploded for three more runs in the bottom of the third, highlighted by a two-run single by Ekstrom.

The Crusaders kept the game close as they pulled within one in the top of the fourth when two runs scored thanks to a throwing error by Wilkes. The momentum would not last long as Wilkes put the game away with two more runs in the bottom of the fourth after Stefanelli and Jackie Follweiler (Slatington/Northern Lehigh) both singled.

With the wins, Wilkes improved to 12-20 on the year, while Alvernia fell to 20-12. The Lady Colonels will play their final two games of the year this Saturday when they head to Doylestown for a double header against Delaware Valley.