WILKES-BARRE- The Wilkes University softball team punched its ticket to the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom tournament for the first time since 2008 after sweeping King's College on Saturday afternoon. The Lady Colonels took game one 4-2 before taking game two 5-0.

Wilkes is now 22-10 overall and 9-3 in MAC Freedom play.

In game one, King's got on the board first in the bottom of the first with two runs on three hits.

The Lady Colonels cut the deficit to 2-1 in the top of the third with one run on three hits. Sarah Birchmeier (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) started with a two-out single to left and moved to third on Sarah Gibson (Chico, CA/Pleasant Valley)'s single to right before coming in to score on a single from Celine Podlesney (Hazle Twp., PA/Hazleton).

Wilkes took the lead for good in the top of the sixth, scoring three runs on four hits. Podlesney lef off with a single to left and was pinch run for by Erika Gerace (Orwigsburg, PA/Blue Mountain). Gerace was sacrificed to second by Haley Welker (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth) and advanced to third on a line out to right field by Gracen Staunton (Kernersville, NC/Northwest Guilford). Caitlin Brown (Glen Cove, NY/Glen Cove) brought Gerace in with an RBI single to center and moved to second on Lacey Bixler (Williamstown, PA/Williams Valley)'s single to right before both came around to score on Christina Gambino (Basking Ridge, NJ/Ridge)'s double to center.

The Monarchs got two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh but Podlesney was able to slam the door.

Podlesney improved to 9-5 this season, throwing all seven innings while surrendering two runs on six hits with zero walks and eight strikeouts.

Birchmeier (2-4, one run), Gibson (2-4) and Podlesney (2-4, one RBI) each had multiple hits in the first game.

The Lady Colonels started the scoring in game two in the top of the second, plating one run on two hits. Brown hit a one out single to left, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Bixler, and came home on Gambino's RBI single to right.

Wilkes doubled its lead in the top of the fourth with one run on one hit and one error. Welker led off reaching on an error by the shortstop, was bunted to second by Staunton, and scored on Brown's single up the middle.

The Lady Colonels busted the game open in the top of the fifth with three runs on three hits. Kaliyah Moore (South Williamsport, PA/Williamsport) led off the frame with a single to right and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Birchmeier. After Gibson walked, Welker singled up the middle to score Moore and move Gibson to third before moving up to second. Staunton followed with a two-run single before being caught at second trying to stretch her single an extra base.

Staunton improved to 11-3 with the win, giving up just five hits with zero walks and four strikeouts.

Brown led Wilkes at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with one run scored and one RBI.

The Lady Colonels return to the field on Tuesday when they will host Susquehanna for a doubleheader at 4:00 p.m.