MISENHEIMER, NC – The Wilkes University softball team opened its 2019 season with a doubleheader at Jack Ingram Field Sunday, falling by scores of 7-0 and 1-0 to the host Pfeiffer University.

Wilkes stands at 0-2 following its opening day while Pfeiffer continued its hot start to the season and improved to 8-0 overall.

The Colonels were unable to get a run across after getting two runners on base with errors in the top of the first inning of game one and the Falcons wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as they knocked two solo home runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 2-0 lead.

Gracen Staunton (Kernersville, NC/Northwest Guilford) worked out of a bases loaded jam in the second inning by inducing a groundout to end the inning. Haley Welker (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth) then recorded the lone hit of the game for the Colonels to lead off the third inning with a bunt single. Sydney Cogswell (Apalachin, NY/Vestal) then moved Welker to second with a sacrifice bunt but Wilkes was unable to score her from scoring position. The Falcons then added to its lead in the bottom of the inning with a two-run home run following a leadoff walk.

Staunton worked a perfect fourth inning as the junior retired the side with three groundouts. Pfeiffer hit its fourth home run of the game to start the bottom of the fifth inning and added a sixth run on an RBI single down the rightfield line later in the inning. The Falcons added their final run on a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning.

Staunton (0-1) pitched four+ innings, allowing five earned runs on seven hits. She struck out three and allowed two walks. Rhiannon Aurand (Avondale, PA/Avon Grove) made her debut in the circle for the Colonels as the freshman pitched the final two innings. She allowed two earned runs on five hits and two walks while registering two strikeouts.

Kiana Millsaps earned the win for Pfeiffer as she pitched the first five innings allowing just one hit. Kyndle Wallace and Emerson Puzey each pitch one shutout inning to close out the one-hit shutout in game one.

Pfeiffer used a one-out RBI single in the bottom of the first inning to plate the only run of game number two. The Colonels out-hit the Falcons three to one over the final six innings but were unable to score the tying run.

Caitlin Brown (Glen Cove, NY/Glen Cove) led off the second inning with a single to third base to provide Wilkes with its first hit of the game. Gab Giordano (Moscow, PA/Holy Cross) single through the left side and then stole second in the top of the third inning with one out but was retired on the next play on a fielder's choice play.

Celine Podlesney (Hazle Twp., PA/Hazleton) provided the Colonels third hit with a single through the left side with one out in the fourth inning. Brown then put down a sacrifice bunt to move Podlesney to second and Jaime Martin (Bridgeton, NJ/Cumberland Regional) enter to pinch run for her but a groundout to shortstop ended the threat.

The Colonels threatened in the top of the sixth by loading the bases after Haley Boyd (Escalon, CA/Escalon) reached on a throwing error and Cogswell walked. The duo then stole second and third before a groundout to first. Podlesney was then intentionally walked to load the bases. Boyd was then cut down at home when Brown grounded to the pitcher and then the Falcons got out the jam with a strikeout for the third out.

Podlesney (0-1) pitched the full six innings allowing just the one earned run on two hits and five walks with three strikeouts.

Millsaps picked up her second win of the day as she went the distance this time in the circle for the Falcons.

The Colonels are off Monday before returning to the field on Tuesday for a doubleheader at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Wilkes will face Eastern Mennonite University at 11:30 a.m. and then square off with the University of Mary Washington at 1:30 p.m.