EDWARDSVILLE – Visiting King's College recorded a pair of victories over host Wilkes University winning 3-0 in game one before posting a 10-2 victory in six innings in game two Saturday afternoon at the Ralston Athletic Complex.
 
Wilkes dropped to 1-3 overall while King's improved to 6-4 overall following the sweep.
 
Game one proved to be a pitcher's duel as both starters went the distance. King's opened the scoring in the top of the first plating two runs on three hits. Kiersten Krouse led off the frame with a base hit then scored on a double by Mindina Lieback. Bailey Loyack singled through the left side and Lieback advanced to third on the play. After a walk, Hannah Farr drew a bases-loaded walk to plate King's second run of the inning.
 
Wilkes looked to get on the board in the bottom of the fourth as Erin Cabry (York, PA/Central York) doubled down the left field line with one out. Cabry advanced to third on a Rachel Pritchard (Wilmington, DE/Concord) groundout before being stranded following another groundout to end the frame.
 
King's added an insurance run in the top of the seventh to push the lead to 3-0 heading into the final half inning. Two walks began the inning followed by a sacrifice bunt that moved the runners to second and third. After a groundout, Molly Gillette singled down the right field line to plate the run.
 
Wilkes had one last attempt to score in the bottom of the seventh as Haylee Calaman (Elizabethtown, PA/Elizabethtown Area) began the frame with a walk. Emma Stauffer (Media, PA/Penncrest) singled through the left side moving Calaman to second. Sarah Gibson (Chico, CA/Pleasant Valley) then hit into a double play which moved Calaman to third, but a groundout on the next at bat ended the hopes for a comeback for the Colonels.
 
Pritchard went all seven innings for Wilkes in the circle allowing eight hits and three earned runs while striking out three. Stauffer topped all Wilkes hitters finishing 2-for-3 at the plate.
 
Gabrielle Visconti recorded the shutout win in the circle for King's going seven innings allowing just four hits while striking out one. Krouse led King's at the plate going 3-for-4.
 
The second game went scoreless through two innings before King's opened up a 5-0 lead scoring three in the third and two in the fourth.
 
Liebeck began the third with an RBI single to right center scoring one before a fielding error and throwing error two batters later plated two more in the frame.
 
Liebeck continued her hot hitting this time drilling a two-run double to right center as King's led by five after four innings of play.
 
King's broke the game open in the top of the fifth scoring four runs on three hits and two Wilkes errors to take a 9-0 advantage into the bottom half of the frame.
 
Wilkes finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a two-run home run from Marissa Pick (Watsontown, PA/Warrior Run), also her first collegiate hit. Taylor Douple (Fredericksburg, PA/Northern Lebanon) scored on the blast to right field singling off the pitcher a batter before.
 
King's added a run in the top of the sixth to push the lead back to eight and Wilkes was unable to score in the bottom half of the frame ending the contest.
 
The Colonels were only able to muster four hits throughout as King's starter Kristina Kocher went all six innings striking out four to record the win.
 
Rhia Aurand (Avondale, PA/Avon Grove) went five innings for Wilkes allowing 12 hits and four earned runs (six unearned). Hope Mullins (Midland, VA/Liberty) entered in relief pitching a scoreless inning.
 
The two teams return to play tomorrow to complete the series at King's starting at 1:00 p.m.