LYCOMING, PA – After falling 6-2 in game one, visiting Wilkes University used the hot bat of Haley Welker (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth) and timely pitching in game two to secure a 3-2 victory on way to a split at Lycoming College Tuesday afternoon at the Shangraw Complex.
 
With the split Wilkes moves to 6-10 overall while Lycoming stands 10-9 overall on the season.
 
Lycoming jumped out to a 5-0 lead through three innings in game one and never looked back securing a 6-2 victory. Wilkes scored one run in the fourth thanks to Welker's solo shot, the first of her career at Wilkes, in the frame. The Lady Colonels added another run in the top of the seventh when Cailtin Brown singled on a bunt scoring Welker on the play. Lycoming ended the hops of a full Wilkes comeback using a fielder's choice, groundout and strike out to end the game.
 
Christina Gambino (Basking Ridge, NJ/Ridge) pitched all six innings for Wilkes in the circle allowing eight hits and six runs (two earned) while striking out two Lycoming batters. The Wilkes offense managed five hits in the game with one each from Welker, Brown, Mikala Strum (Grass Valley, CA/Nevada Union), Ally Paskas (Rutherford, NJ/Rutherford) and Gambino.
 
In game two it was Welker at it again at the plate, adding her second career homer on a solo shot in the one-run second inning. Lycoming responded with a run in the bottom of the third tying the game at 1-1. Wilkes answered back in the top of the fourth scoring two runs, including the game-winner, thanks to three hits in the frame. Welker began the inning with a walk followed by a Brown bunt single. After a fielder's choice, Nicole Cumbo (Wyoming, PA/Wyoming Area) connected on a two-run single to push the two runners across for Wilkes.
 
Bethany Shaud (Drums, PA/Marion Catholic) then came on in relief of starter Cumbo to retire the Lycoming bats in the sixth and seventh to preserve the win and record her first collegiate save.
 
Sarah Birchmeier (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East), Lacey Bixler (Williamstown, PA/Williams Valley), and Brown all finished with two hits to lead the Wilkes attack at the plate. Cumbo went 5.1 innings allowing just one run scattering eight hits to post her third win of the season in the circle.
 
Wilkes returns home Thursday to host Moravian College at 3:00 p.m. at the Ralston Athletic Complex.