EDWARDSVILLE, PA – The Wilkes University softball team played its home and Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (Mac Freedom) opener Sunday at the Ralston Athletic Complex, dropping a doubleheader to Misericordia University. The Colonels fell 2-0 in game one and then 5-3 in game two.

With the losses Wilkes stands at 6-7 overall and 0-2 in the MAC Freedom. Misericordia improved to 9-3 overall and start conference play at 2-0.

The Cougars grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning of game one when they strung together three consecutive two-out hits. Gracen Staunton (Kernersville, NC/Northwest Guilford) was then was able to get a fly out to left to get out of a bases loaded situation.

Haley Welker (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth) recorded the first hit for the Colonels in the bottom of the second with a leadoff single to right. Sarah Gibson (Chico, CA/Pleasant Valley) then moved Welker to second with a sacrifice bunt. Caitlin Brown (Glen Cove, NY/Glen Cove) then followed with a single to third base but Wilkes was unable to plate a run.

Kiersten Pflueger then led off the top of the third with a home run to center to put Misericordia ahead 2-0.

Wilkes threatened for a run in the bottom of the fourth when a two-out Jessie Smith (Millersville, MD/Severna Park) single through the left side moved a runner to third but the Colonels fouled out to left on the next play. Then in their final at bats the Colonels got two runners on with a Gab Giordano (Moscow, PA/Holy Cross) walk and a Staunton single down the left field line but again Brooke Moyle was able to work out of trouble to pick up the shutout in the circle for Misericordia.

Staunton (2-3) pitched all seven innings for the Colonels giving up just the two runs on 10 hits. She struck out eight Cougars with just one walk. Welker collected two of the Colonels six hits as she went 2-for-4.

Misericordia started game two in similar fashion to game one as it scored one run in the top of the first on two hits this time.

Wilkes scored its first run of the day in the bottom of the third to even the score at 1-1. Britny Jumalon (Torrance, CA/Torrance) led off with a single up the middle and then moved to second on Sydney Cogswell's (Apalachin, NY/Vestal) sacrifice bunt. After a strikeout, Jumalon advanced to third on a passed ball and then scored on Haley Boyd's (Escalon, CA/Escalon) RBI-single down the right field line.

The Cougars then scored three runs on four hits and one error in the top of the fifth to take a 4-1 lead. The road team would tack on another run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly following a walk and double.

The Colonels fought for a comeback in the bottom of the seventh as they entered trailing by four runs. Madison Ensley (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic) led off with a single up the middle and then Erin Cabry (York, PA/Central York) followed with a single to third. After a strikeout, Boyd singled to right where a fielding bobble allowed Ensley to score from second and for Cabry to move to third. Staunton then reached on a fielding error by the shortstop that allowed Cabry to score as the Colonels cut the deficit to two runs at 5-3. Miranda Bohn was able to finish off her complete game by getting the next two Wilkes batters out to end the game.

Celine Podlesney (Hazle Twp., PA/Hazleton) (2-3) took the loss in the circle for the Colonels as the junior went five innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on nine hits. She struck out five with two walks. Rhiannon Aurand (Avondale, PA/Avon Grove) threw the final two innings, allowing one run on one hit and two walks.

Boyd led the way at the plate in game two with a 3-for-4 effort with one RBI. Six other Colonels had one hit.

Wilkes will look to get back into the win column on Wednesday when it hosts Keystone College for a non-conference twin bill at the Ralston Athletic Complex with first pitch scheduled for 4:00 p.m.