EDWARDSVILLE – The Wilkes University softball team dropped a pair of one-run decisions to Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom-foe Misericordia University on Saturday afternoon, 1-0 in game one and 2-1 in game two.

The Lady Colonels are now 14-6 this season and 5-3 in MAC Freedom play.

In game one, both pitchers were able to minimize damage and not face any real adversity until the top of the fourth. Misericordia was able to load the bases with no outs against freshman Celine Podlesney (Hazle Twp., PA/Hazleton), but Podlesney was able to coax a fielder's choice out at home and then recorded back-to-back strikeouts to end the threat.

The Cougars scored the game's lone run in the top of the sixth on three hits and one error.

Podlesney took a tough-luck loss, pitching all seven innings and surrendering one run on eight hits with no walks and five strikeouts.

Sophomore Caitlin Brown (Glen Cove, NY/Glen Cove) and sophomore Haley Welker (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth) had the only hits for Wilkes in game one.

Game two was much of the same, with neither team able to muster much offense against stringy pitching. The Lady Colonels crossed the plate first in game two, scoring one run on three hits and one error. Freshman
Sarah Gibson (Chico, CA/Pleasant Valley) hit a one-out single to center and was inch run for by freshman Melena Giuliano (Poestenkill, NY/Averill Park) who advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from freshman Kaliyah Moore (South Williamsport, PA/Williamsport) and came in to score on a single to center from sophomore Sarah Birchmeier (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East).

Misericordia responded with a run in the top of the fourth and one run in the top of the seventh.

Wilkes loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh but was unable to tie the score.

Freshman Gracen Staunton (Kernersville, NC/Northwest Guilford) pitched a quality game but fell to 7-3 on the season, giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits with one walk and one strikeout.

Senior Lacy Bixler (2-3), Gibson (2-3), and Birchmeier (2-4, one RBI) led the way at the plate in the second game.

The Lady Colonels return to action tomorrow when they host Lycoming for a non-conference doubleheader at 1:00 p.m.