MADISON, N.J. – The Wilkes University softball team pounded out 22 hits in its doubleheader sweep of Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom-foe FDU-Florham on Sunday afternoon, taking game one 7-6 after a furious seventh inning comeback before exploding in game two for a 15-5 six inning victory.

The Lady Colonels improved 3-1 in MAC Freedom play and 10-2 overall.

The Devils got on the board first in game one, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first on three hits.

Wilkes cut the deficit in half in the top of the fourth on three hits. Sophomore Haley Welker (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth) led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on freshman Celine Podlesney (Hazle Twp., PA/Hazleton)'s sacrifice bunt. After advancing to third on a wild pitch, freshman Gracen Staunton (Kernersville, NC/Northwest Guilford) doubled to left-center driving in Welker.

The Lady Colonels tied the game in the top of the fifth when freshman Gabrielle Molitoris (Coplay, PA/Whitehall) launched a solo home run to right-center, the first home run of her collegiate career.

FDU-Florham retook the lead with four runs on two hits and four Wilkes miscues.

Wilkes cut the deficit in the top of the sixth when Welker hit a home run of her own to right field and make the score 6-3.

The Lady Colonels never said quit, and they came all the way back to take their first lead in the top of the seventh, scoring four runs on three hits and one error. Freshman Sarah Gibson (Chico, CA/Pleasant Valley) started the rally with a single and was pinch-run for by junior Mia Lussier (Somerset, MA/Somerset Berkley), who advanced to second on a wild pitch. Junior Sarah Birchmeier (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) followed with a walk. Molitoris continued her heroic day, following with a single to center that drove home Lussier and moved Birchmeier to second, with Molitoris moving to second on the throw from the outfield. Sophomore Caitlin Brown (Glen Cove, NY/Glen Cove) kept the rally going by reaching on an error that allowed Molitoris to move to third and Birchmeier to score and cut the deficit to 6-5. Following a strikeout, Podlesney walked to load the bases before freshman Gracen Staunton (Kernersville, NC/Northwest Guilford) hit a single to bring home freshman Erika Gerace (Orwigsburg, PA/Blue Mountain), who ran for Brown, and Molitoris for the 7-6 lead.

Junior Nicole Cumbo (Wyoming, PA/Wyoming Area) earned her first win of the season, working the final 2.2 innings, shutting the door with no runs surrendered and just one hit allowed with two strikeouts and no walks.

Molitoris (2-3, two runs, two RBI's), Welker (2-3, two runs, one RBI), Staunton (2-4, three RBI's), and Gibson (2-3) each had multiple hits in game one.

In game two, the Devils crossed the plate first with one run on three hits in the bottom of the first.

Wilkes jumped in front in the top of the second with two runs on two hits. Podlesney started the rally with a one-out double to left-center and following a two-out walk to junior
Christina Gambino (Basking Ridge, NJ/Ridge), freshman Kaliyah Moore (South Williamsport, PA/Williamsport) tripled to right driving in Podlesney and Gambino.

The Lady Colonels pushed their lead to 6-1 in the top of the fourth with four runs on three hits and one error. Staunton hit a one-out single and came around to score on Gambino's two-run homer. Moore followed with a walk and advanced to second on a single from Gibson and both advanced on a walk to Birchmeier to load the bases. After a fielder's choice that forced Moore at the plate, Brown walked to plate senior Lacey Bixler (Williamstown, PA/Williams Valley), who pinch-ran for Gibson, and move everyone up a base. Welker finished the scoring by reaching on an error that brought home Birchemeier.

FDU-Florham responded with a run in the bottom of the fourth on one hit to cut the lead to 6-2.

Wilkes answered in the top of the fifth when Gambino hit her second home run of the game, this one a two-out solo homer to right to make the score 7-2.

The Devils would not go away, scoring three runs on four hits in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead to 7-5.

The Lady Colonels responded with an eight-run outburst in the top of the sixth, using three errors and four hits. Freshman Shataya Buxton (Williamsport, PA/Williamsport) led off with a pinch-hit walk with Birchmeier re-entering to run the bases. Freshman Hannah Miller (Taylor, PA/Riverside) hit a pinch-hit single next that moved Birchmeier to third before Molitoris re-entered to run. After a dropped foul ball gave her new life, Brown hit an RBI single that drove home Birchmeier and moved Molitoris to second. After freshman Melena Giuliano (Poestenkill, NY/Averill Park) entered as a runner for Brown, Welker walked to load the bases Podlesney reached on an error that allowed Molitoris to score and reload the bases. After Gambino walked to score Giuliano, all runners moved up a base on a wild pitch that brought home Welker. Moore followed with a single to left that scored Podlesney and moved Gambino to third. Bixler reached on an error that brought home Gambino and moved Moore to second with both runners coming in to score on a double from Birchmeier to finish the scoring with Wilkes reaching the final 15-5 score.

Staunton earned her fifth win of the season, surrendering five runs (four earned) on eight hits and one walk with two strikeouts in 4.2 innings. Cumbo pitched the final 1.1 innings, giving up one hit with one walk and three strikeouts.

Birchmeier (3-3, two runs, two RBI's), Gambino (2-2, four runs, four RBI's), and Moore (2-3, one run, three RBI's) led the Lady Colonels at the plate in game two.

Wilkes returns to the field on Tuesday when it will host Lycoming for a 3:00 p.m. non-conference doubleheader.