WILKES SOFTBALL SALVAGES SPLIT WITH EASTERN TO OPEN FREEDOM PLAY

3/17/2012 6:21:00 PM

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WILKES SOFTBALL SALVAGES SPLIT WITH EASTERN TO OPEN FREEDOM PLAY

EDWARDSVILLE – The Wilkes University softball team salvaged a split in its Freedom Conference opener against Eastern University Saturday at the Ralston Athletic Complex. The visiting Eagles posted a 10-4 win in game one, but Wilkes rallied in game two to record a 4-1 victory and manage a series split.

Wilkes moves to 4-4 overall on the year and 1-1 in league play. Eastern stands 8-3-1 overall and 1-1 in conference contests.

In game one, Kait Brown (Utica, NY/Thomas R. Proctor) led-off the Wilkes third with a single and later scored on an RBI hit from Jordan Borger (Kunkletown, PA/Pleasant Valley) to give the Lady Colonels a 1-0 lead after three innings of play. Eastern responded in the top of the fourth scoring seven runs on three hits and three Wilkes fielding miscues to take a 7-1 advantage.

The Lady Colonels cut into the deficit in their next at-bats. Laykin Hughes (Minersville, PA/Pottsville) began the frame with a double down the left field line. Kristen Baker (Hunlock Creek, PA/Lake Lehman) followed with another double plating Hughes in the process. Baker would later score on an RBI single from Katie Brown (Nanticoke, PA/Nanticoke) cutting the deficit to 7-3 after four innings of action.

Wilkes tried one last attempt at a comeback in the sixth as Alysha Bixler (Williamstown, PA/Williams Valley) connected on an RBI single to centerfield scoring Baker to bring the Lady Colonels to within five, 8-3. Eastern used two runs in the top of the seventh as insurance to hold on to the 10-4 win in the opening contest.

Katie Brown (Nanticoke, PA/Nanticoke) finished 2-for-3 in the game with one RBI. Kait Brown (Utica, NY/Thomas R. Proctor), Bixler, Jordan Borger (Kunkletown, PA/Pleasant Valley), Jessalyn Paveletz (Hanover Township, PA/Hanover Area), Hughes, Emily McGrath (Upper Darby, PA/Drexel Hill), and Baker each added one hit. Bixler went five innings allowing eight runs (none earned) striking out two in the defeat. Heather Compton (Easton, PA/Easton) entered in relief in the sixth going two innings allowing two runs on four hits.

Game two proved to be a pitching duel early as Hughes went three strong innings to begin the game not allowing a hit. Bixler provided the firepower in the third with a solo home run to right field as the Lady Colonels led 1-0 after three innings of play.

After Eastern answered with a run in the fourth, the Wilkes offense came alive in the sixth scoring three runs on four hits in the frame to break open the game. Borger got things going with a double down the right field line. Mandy Seccia (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) doubled home Borger with another hit to right field. After a Hughes single moved Seccia to third, McGrath connected on a key two-out RBI double scoring both runners to give Wilkes some breathing room heading to the seventh up 4-1.

Hughes would strikeout Eastern's first two batters before a ground ball to third ended any hopes of an Eagle comeback.

Paveletz and Bixler combined to go 4-for-6 with two RBI's. Hughes was dominant in the circle going all seven innings allowing five hits and one run striking out eight batters.

Wilkes returns to play Wednesday with a road matchup at Alvernia University. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. in Reading, Pa.

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