No. 17 Manhattanville Too Much for Wilkes Softball

EDWARDSVILLE – The Wilkes University softball team dropped both ends of its Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) doubleheader with No. 17-ranked Manhattanville College at the Ralston Athletic Complex on Saturday afternoon, falling 5-1 in game one and 3-0 in game two.

The Colonels are now 15-12 overall and 4-4 in conference.

Manhattanville opened the scoring in the top of the third with five runs on two home runs.

Wilkes broke through for its lone run in the bottom of the seventh when Sarah Gibson (Chico, CA/Pleasant Valley) singled up the middle to bring home Jordyn Kondras (Willow Street, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) after she reached on a fielder's choice and moved to second when Gab Giordano (Moscow, PA/Holy Cross) was hit by a pitch.

Gracen Staunton (Kernersville, NC/Northwest Guilford) fell to 6-5 on the season, tossing a complete game loss allowing five runs (one earned) on nine hits with two walks and five strikeouts.

Gibson (2-for-4, one RBI), Erin Cabry (York, PA/Central York) (2-for-3), and Staunton (2-for-3) led the way at the plate for the Colonels in game one.

The Valiants opened the scoring in the top of the third of game two with a two-run home run, and added a third run in the top of the seventh.

Celine Podlesney (Hazle Twp., PA/Hazleton) fell to 6-5 with the defeat, allowing three runs on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts over six-plus innings.

Cabry continued to swing the bat well, finishing game two 2-for-3.

The three Colonel seniors on the team, Giordano, Caitlin Brown (Glen Cove, NY/Glen Cove) and Haley Welker (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth) were recognized with a senior day ceremony prior to the games.

Wilkes returns to the field on Wednesday when it will host Clarks Summit University for a 6:00 p.m. non-conference doubleheader.