NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Wilkes University softball team split its first two games of the season, dropping a 7-4 decision against Penn State-Harrisburg before defeating Mount Aloysius 7-0 in the afternoon game.

The Lady Colonels are 1-1 after the split.

In the first game Wilkes was able to strike in the top of the first. Outfielder Mia Lussier (Somerset, MA/Somerset Berkley) led off the game reaching on an error, moving to second on a sacrifice bunt by catcher Sarah Birchmeier (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East), and coming home on a single by infielder Grace Sanzalone (Mountainside, NJ/Governor Livingstone) to give the Lady Colonels a 1-0 lead.

Neither team generated much offense until the bottom of the third when infielder Jenna Rupakis hit a three-run home run to give the Nittany Lions a 3-1 lead.

Wilkes struck back in the top of the fourth when the Lady Colonels scored three runs that were aided by two Penn State defensive miscues and capitalized with hits by Ally Paskas (Rutherford, NJ/Rutherford), Birchmeier, and Sanzalone.

Wilkes defense faltered in the bottom of the sixth, committing two errors that allowed the Nittany Lions to score three unearned runs and put the game away.

Birchmeier went 2-for-3 with a run scored in the game while Sanzalone and Paskas each went 2-for-4 with Sanzalone finishing with two runs batted in.

In the second game, Mount Aloysius put a runner on third in the top of the first but came no closer the rest of the way in the Lady Colonels first win of the season.

Wilkes struck early and often in the nightcap, plating four runs in the top of the first on two walks, three hits, and were aided by a fielding error. After going down in order in the bottom of the second, The Lady Colonels scoring three more runs in the third on a triple by Birchmeier and a double by Haley Welker (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth).

Wilkes put runners in scoring position in the fifth and sixth but was unable to increase its lead.

Pitcher Nicole Cumbo (Wyoming, PA/Wyoming Area) threw her first career complete-game shutout, going all seven innings with four strikeouts, giving up just two hits and walking three batters while also hitting one batter. Mount Aloysius had just two batters reach second base the entire game.

The Lady Colonels were led at the plate by Sanzalone, who went 1-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored. Paskas went 1-for-2 with two walks and one run scored, Mikala Strum (Grass Valley, CA/Nevada Union) was 2-for-4 and Haley Welker (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth) was 2-for-3.

The Lady Colonels return to action tomorrow when they face SUNYIT at 9:30 a.m. and face Mt. Aloysius again at 3:30 p.m.