EDWARDSVILLE – Junior Lacey Bixler (Williamstown, PA/Williams Valley) launched a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth to break a 5-5 tie and lift the Wilkes University softball team to an 8-6 win over Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom-foe Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham in game two after falling 7-0 in game one at the Ralston Athletic Complex on Saturday afternoon.

The Lady Colonels are now 10-20 on the season and 3-9 in MAC Freedom play.

FDU-Florham got off to a fast start in game two, scoring five runs through the first inning and a half.

Wilkes got on the board in the bottom of the second on two hits. Junior Ally Paskas (Rutherford, NJ/Rutherford) led off the inning with a single to left, and stole second. Freshman Caitlin Brown (Glen Cove, NY/Glen Cove) moved her to third with a bunt, and freshman Haley Welker (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth) drove her home with a single to left.

The Lady Colonels added a second run in the bottom of third. Sophomore Grace Sanzalone (Mountainside, NJ/Governor Livingstone) hit a one-out single down the left field line, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from sophomore Sarah Birchmeier (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East). Sanzalone advanced to third on a wild pitch, and was driven home by a single to center from freshman Alexis Ayache (Catasauqua, PA/Catasauqua) to cut the deficit to 5-2.

Wilkes trimmed it to 5-4 in the bottom of the fourth on five hits. Junior Mikala Strum (Grass Valley, CA/Nevada Union) hit a one-out double to right field and scored on a single to center by Welker. Following a line-out, Sanzalone singled to right-center field to move Welker to third. Birchmeier stepped up next and hit a run-scoring single to right to score Welker and advance Sanzalone to second. Sophomore Christina Gambino (Basking Ridge, NJ/Ridge) followed with a single to load the bases but the Lady Colonels were unable to tie the game.

The bottom of the fifth was when Wilkes took its first lead, scoring four runs on two hits and two walks. Paskas led off the inning with a walk, stole second, and advanced to third on a fly-out. Strum laced a one-out single to center to bring Paskas home, and was followed by a walk from Welker. Bixler stepped up next and launched a 1-2 pitch down the left field line that stayed fair as it left the yard for a three run home run and an 8-5 lead.

The Devils plated a run in the bottom of the sixth but were unable to do anymore damage despite loading the bases in the top of the seventh.

Bixler led the Lady Colonels at the plate, finishing 1-for-3 with three rbi's and one run scored. Sanzalone (2-for-4, one run), Gambino (2-for-3), Strum (2-for-3, one rbi, one run), and Welker (2-for-2, two rbi's, two runs) had multiple hits for Wilkes in game two.

Freshman Bethany Shaud (Drums, PA/Marion Catholic) earned the win, pitching six innings of relief surrendering three earned runs on 11 hits with four walks and one strikeout. Sophomore Nicole Cumbo (Wyoming, PA/Wyoming Area) earned her second career save, first of the season, pitching one inning. Cumbo started the game with the first three runs charged to her, but came in to get the final two outs with the bases loaded.

Game one was all FDU-Florham, as the Devils scored one in the second, one in the third, one in the fifth, and four in the sixth, taking advantage of six Wilkes miscues in the field.

Gambino led the Lady Colonels in the first game, finishing 2-for-3. Brown, Birchmeier, and Paskas each had a hit.

Cumbo took the loss in the first game, pitching all seven innings and giving up seven runs (four earned) on seven hits with one walk and four strikeouts.

Wilkes returns to the field tomorrow when they travel to Marywood for a 1 p.m. non-conference doubleheader.