MYRTLE BEACH, SC – The Wilkes University softball team won two down-to-the-wire games on Thursday at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic to finish its stay in South Carolina with a perfect 5-0 record. The Colonels downed Chatham University 7-6 in the early game before defeating Guilford College 9-6 in 10 innings in the nightcap.

Wilkes improved to 5-2 overall with the victories.

Gracen Staunton (Kernersville, NC/Northwest Guilford) pitched a 1-2-3 first inning for the Colonels against Chatham (2-5). Wilkes then got on the scoreboard first with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Caylee-Mae Williams (Yuba City, CA/River Valley) led off with a single and Jessie Smith (Millersville, MD/Severna Park) followed with another base hit. Megan Magoon (Barnegat, NJ/Barnegat) then made it three-straight hits as the Colonels loaded the bases with no outs. Haley Boyd (Escalon, CA/Escalon) then grounded out to third to pick up a RBI with Williams scoring. Sydney Cogswell (Apalachin, NY/Vestal) then singled to plate Smith and Gab Giordano (Moscow, PA/Holy Cross) connected on the fifth base hit of the inning to score Magoon as Wilkes took a 3-0 lead.

The Cougars pulled one run back in the top of the third with a sacrifice fly.

Boyd led off the bottom of the fourth with a hit and was sacrificed to second on a bunt by Cogswell. Giordano then knocked a run-scoring single. She then stole second and was moved to third on a bunt by Sarah Gibson (Chico, CA/Pleasant Valley). Celine Podlesney (Hazle Twp., PA/Hazleton) then reached on an error by the second baseman that also allowed Giordano to score as Wilkes made it 5-1.

Chatham then scored five runs on five hits to take a 6-5 lead in the top of the fifth inning.

Wilkes fought back with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. Giordano started the rally with a triple. Gibson then hit a RBI double and Jordyn Kondras (Willow Street, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) followed with another double to score Haley Welker (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth) who pinch ran for Gibson to allowed the Colonels to take a 7-6 lead into the seventh where Rhiannon Aurand (Avondale, PA/Avon Grove) was able to persevere the win.

Staunton pitched the first four innings, allowing one earned run on five hits with five strikeouts. Aurand (2-0) went the final three innings allowing five earned runs on seven hits.

Giordano led the offense with a 3-for-4 game with two RBI's and two runs scored. Gibson finished 2-for-3 with one RBI.

In game two Wilkes grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first after Giordano scored on a RBI groundout by Podlesney.

Guilford (6-1) took a 4-1 lead with four runs on four hits and an error in the bottom of the second inning.

The Colonels chipped a run off the lead in the top of the third on Gibson's run-scoring double to right center. Giordano scored after she singled to reach base.

Wilkes gained another run back in the top of the fifth to make the score 4-3. Boyd led off with a double and then scored on Giordano's single through the right side. The Quakers then reestablished their two-run lead with a run-scoring triple in the bottom of the inning.

The Colonels would even the score in the top of the sixth. Caitlin Brown (Glen Cove, NY/Glen Cove) reached on a fielder's choice and then Cogswell pinch ran for her with two outs. Boyd then double to score Cogswell all the way from first and Erin Cabry (York, PA/Central York) then tied the score with a single through the left side as Boyd scored.

Guilford nearly won the game in regulation but Staunton was able to make a throw to home in time for Britny Jumalon (Torrance, CA/Torrance) to tag out the runner trying to score from second to end the inning following a throwing error to start the play by Giordano.

In extra innings, Wilkes took a 6-5 lead in the top of the ninth after Cabry scored on two errors by the Quakers. Guilford then knotted the game back up by scoring on a Colonel error.

Magoon started the tenth inning at second base and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Podlesney. Jumalon then hit a clutch two-out RBI single through the left side to put Wilkes up 7-6. Staunton then hit the first home run of the season for the Colonels with a blast over the fence 225 feet away to push the lead to 9-6. It was the second home run for the junior in her career.

Podlesney (2-1) then was able to send the Quakers to their first loss of the season in the bottom of the tenth to earn the victory. The junior pitched all 10 innings. She allowed six runs (three earned) on 12 hits and one walk.

Giordano had her second three-hit game of the day as she went 3-for-5 with one RBI and two runs scored. Boyd finished 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs.

It was the first 10-inning game for the Colonels since the 2013 season.

The Colonels start their trip back north today and will stop in Virginia for two doubleheaders. Wilkes faces No. 22 Randolph-Macon College at 12:00 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday) in Ashland, Va.