Steve Finkernagel

The Lady Colonels return to action tomorrow when they take on Lycoming in a non-conference doubleheader

LADY COLONELS SOFTBALL DROPS A PAIR OF GAMES AGAINST FREEDOM CONFERENCE LEADING DESALES

4/2/2014 7:37:00 PM

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LADY COLONELS SOFTBALL DROPS A PAIR OF GAMES AGAINST FREEDOM CONFERENCE LEADING DESALES

EDWARDSVILLE – The Lady Colonels softball team dropped to 1-5 in Freedom Conference play after losing to DeSales 6-0 in game one and 4-3 in game two on Wednesday afternoon.

Wilkes falls to 2-12, 1-5 Freedom play, while DeSales improves to 8-5, 4-0 in Freedom play.

In game one the Bulldogs jumped on Wilkes starting pitcher Alysha Bixler (Williamstown, PA/Williams Valley) for three runs in the first inning thanks to three RBI singles by DJ McCauley, Alexa Beaumont, and Samantha Gibson. Bixler was able to work out of the first inning jam by retiring the next three batters while limiting DeSales from doing more damage at the plate. Wilkes put the first two runners on base in the bottom of the first however Jordan Borger (Kunkletown, PA/Pleasant Valley) hit into a 6-4-3 double play that stymied any sort of rally.

The two teams would remain scoreless until the top of the 4^th when DeSales would tack on three more runs to give them a 6-0 cushion on the scoreboard. With two outs leadoff hitter Michelle Gessner doubled to right center, Emily Hockman walked, McCauley singled scoring Gessner, and Beaumont delivered a big double to right center that plated both McCauley and Hockman.

Neither team was able to produce any runs across the plate in the remaining three innings as DeSales won game one 6-0. McCauley pitched a complete game three hit shutout picking up her fourth win of the season for DeSales. McCauley walked five Lady Colonels and struck out five. Alysha Bixler (Williamstown, PA/Williams Valley) led the Lady Colonels from the plate as she went 2-for-3 off of McCauley.

In game two DeSales scored a run in the top of the first on a McCauley single through the left side and in the bottom half of the first Wilkes leadoff hitter Ally Paskas (Rutherford, NJ/Rutherford) hit her first collegiate home run to center field to tie the score at 1-1. Wilkes had a chance to take the lead in the bottom of the 2^nd but came up empty. Brooke Limeberry (Easton, PA/Easton) started the inning off with a standup double down the right field line. Meghan Kisela (Schuylkill Haven, PA/Blue Mountain) laid down a nice sacrifice bunt advancing Limeberry to third base. Makenna Rushannon (Pottsville, PA/Pottsville) walked and stole second base putting runners on second and third with one out for the Lady Colonels. DeSales starting pitcher Rachel Vogel however bore down and got Paskas and Bixler to each groundout to the shortstop Gessner to end the inning.

With the bases loaded and one out in the top of the 3^rd DeSales hit a two-RBI single to right center and Amanda Setzer hit an RBI groundout that put the Bulldogs back in front 4-3. Wilkes chipped away at the lead in the bottom of the 5^th when Hanna DiFresco (Elmwood Park, PA/Immaculate Heart) scored from third on a pass ball. With two outs in the bottom of the 6^th Wilkes put runners on first and second with Alysha Bixler (Williamstown, PA/Williams Valley) coming up to bat. Bixler ripped an RBI double the right field line that scored Rushannon and advanced Paskas to third. Borger had a chance to put the Lady Colonels up 5-4 but lined out to the first baseman to end the inning and leave more runners in scoring position for Wilkes.

Wilkes was unable to rally in the bottom of the 7^th as DeSales held on for a one run win 4-3. Wilkes outhit DeSales 11-5 in game two but left 10 runners on base. Rachel Vogel picked up her fourth win of the year for DeSales while Haylie Phillips (Rome, PA/Northeast Bradford) dropped her second game of the year for Wilkes, allowing four runs and five hits in seven innings. Paskas, Borger, and Rushannon all had two hits apiece for the Lady Colonels while Alex Hoops (Mountaintop, PA/Crestwood) picked up three hits in game two for the Navy and Gold.

Wilkes returns to action tomorrow at the Ralston Athletic Complex when they take on Lycoming College in a non-conference game. First pitch in the doubleheader is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

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