CENTER VALLEY, PA – Visiting Wilkes University pounded out 16 hits on way to a 15-3 five-inning win in game two to salvage a split with host DeSales University after the Bulldogs claimed game one 6-5 in come-from-behind fashion in a MAC Freedom doubleheader Thursday afternoon.
 
With the split Wilkes moves to 7-15 overall and 2-4 in MAC Freedom contests. DeSales stands 4-19 overall and 1-7 in league games.
 
The Wilkes bats erupted in game two thanks to a huge third inning where the Lady Colonels scored ten of their 15 runs. Christina Gambino (Basking Ridge, NJ/Ridge) got things started when she helped herself at the plate belting a three-run double with the bases loaded. Gambino later scored on a double steal as Wilkes led 4-0 after two innings.
 
From there it was the huge third inning that blew the game open as Wilkes used seven hits and three DeSales errors to plate ten runs and push the lead to 14-0. After Lacey Bixler (Williamstown, PA/Williams Valley) was hit by a pitch and Haley Welker (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth) singled, Alexis Ayache (Catasauqua, PA/Catasauqua) launched her first career home run, a three run shot. The hits kept coming as Ally Paskas (Rutherford, NJ/Rutherford) doubled followed by an RBI double from Mikala Strum (Grass Valley, CA/Nevada Union). Grace Sanzalone (Mountainside, NJ/Governor Livingstone) added an RBI single and Sarah Birchmeier (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) an RBI groundout before a two-run double from Welker and RBI single from Ayache rounded out the Lady Colonels scoring in the frame.
 
Birchmeier added an RBI double in the top of the fourth to plate Wilkes 15^th and final run before the game was ended in the fifth with the Lady Colonels leading by more than eight runs.
 
Welker and Sanzalone each finished 3-for-4 with three combined RBI. Strum, Caitlin Brown (Glen Cove, NY/Glen Cove), Ayache and Gambino added two hits each. Ayache plated all four of her RBI in the third inning with the home run and single in consecutive at-bats. Gambino picked up the win in the circle going four innings allowing just three hits while striking out three DeSales batters. Ayache pitched a scoreless fifth inning.
 
Game one saw Wilkes take a 1-0 lead after an RBI single from Strum in the top of the third. DeSales answered back with two runs in the bottom half of the frame using an RBI double and RBI single to do its damage. Sanzalone tied the game in the fifth with an RBI single scoring Mia Lussier (Somerset, MA/Somerset Berkley), but the host Bulldogs responded again scoring one run in the bottom of the fifth to take back the advantage at 3-2. After another DeSales run in the sixth pushed the lead to 4-2, Wilkes rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh capped by a two-run double from Brown. DeSales then stole the win back in its last at-bats using an RBI double and single to score the tying run and game-winning tally.
 
Strum led Wilkes at the plate in game one finishing 3-for-4 with one RBI. Nicole Cumbo (Wyoming, PA/Wyoming Area) suffered the defeat in the circle pitching all six innings allowing ten hits and four earned runs while striking out five batters.
 
Wilkes continues its road stretch Saturday traveling to Purchase, N.Y. for a MAC Freedom doubleheader at Manhattanville College scheduled for 1:00 p.m.