MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Wilkes University softball team split its opening day games of the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic Monday. The Lady Colonels defeated SUNY Polytechnic Institute 9-3 before falling 2-0 to Eastern Mennonite University.

Wilkes overall record stands at 2-2 after Monday's games.

The Lady Colonels opened the scoring against SUNY Poly (0-3) in the top of the third inning after Sydney Cogswell (Apalachin, NY/Vestal) led off the frame with a single. She eventually came around to score when Gracen Staunton (Kernersville, NC/Northwest Guilford) reached on an error.

Wilkes added three more runs in the top of the sixth inning to open a 4-0 lead. Sarah Birchmeier (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) had a RBI single to bring in Kaliyah Moore (South Williamsport, PA/Williamsport) and Britny Jumalon (Torrance, CA/Torrance) provided a pinch hit two-run single to plate Birchmeier and Sarah Gibson (Chico, CA/Pleasant Valley).

Celine Podlesney (Hazle Twp., PA/Hazleton) pitched the first 5.1 innings allowing only one Wildcats hit before SUNY Poly rallied for three runs in the bottom of the sixth on three hits and one error.

The Lady Colonels responded with five runs in the top of the seventh to break open a six-run lead. Podlesney started the scoring with a RBI base hit before a Mia Lussier (Somerset, MA/Somerset Berkley) walk plated the second run of the inning. Cogswell then drove in two more with a single and Alexis Kessler (Bangor, PA/Bangor) capped the scoring by driving in Lussier with a single.

Podlesney (1-1) earned her first victory of the season with a complete game effort. She allowed just one earned run on four hits and struck out three along the way. She also went 3-4 at the plate with an RBI. Birchmeier (one RBI) and Cogswell (2 RBI's) each went 2-3 in the game.

The Lady Colonels struggled to produce offense in the second game as Sydney Reath (five innings) and Kelsi Martin (two innings) of Eastern Mennonite (6-3) combined to pitch a two-hit shutout.

The Royals struck for their two runs in the top of the fifth inning after Staunton (0-1) had pitched the first four innings without allowing a hit. She went the complete seven innings allowing two runs on five hits with two strikeouts.

Wilkes lone hits came in the bottom of the fifth when Podlesney singled to start the frame and Haley Welker (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth) moved her to second with another base knock. Nicolette Kessler (Bangor, PA/Bangor) then walked to load the bases but the Lady Colonels threat ended with a groundout. The Lady Colonels only tallied one baserunner during their final two trips to the plate with a walk.

The Lady Colonels returned to action for two games Tuesday against Penn State Harrisburg and Regis College at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. respectively.