EDWARDSVILLE – The Wilkes University softball team lost a pair of tight games to Lebanon Valley College in non-conference action Wednesday evening at the Ralston Athletic Complex. It took the Dutchmen an extra inning in game one to win 6-3 and then the visitors completed the four-game season series sweep with a 5-4 win in game two.

Wilkes dropped to 2-14 overall while Lebanon Valley improved to 11-9 with the results.

LVC used a double and a single in the first inning to take 1-0 lead in game one. Haylee Calaman (Elizabethtown, PA/Elizabethtown Area) singled down the right field line in the third inning and then advanced to third on a double by Erin Cabry (York, PA/Central York). Nicole O'Rourke (Staten Island, NY/Susan E Wagner) then singled to shortstop to bring in Calaman and tie the game.

Marissa Pick (Watsontown, PA/Warrior Run) gave the Colonels a 2-1 lead with her third home run of the season, on a shot to right field in the bottom of the fifth. LVC tied the game in the top of the sixth with an RBI groundout.

The game would head to extra innings with LVC getting first crack in the top of the eighth. The Dutchmen would push across four runs on two hits and two Colonel errors to take a 6-2 lead. Calaman would score in the bottom of the frame on a wild pitch after reaching on a fielder's choice to start the inning but that was the only run Wilkes could muster as Lebanon Valley took game one 6-3.

Rhia Aurand (Avondale, PA/Avon Grove) (1-4) suffered the loss. She pitched 8.0 innings, allowing six runs (three earned) on six hits with one walk and one strikeout. Jordan Walter (4-5) earned the victory for LVC pitching the final 3.0 innings, allowing one unearned run on one hit and two walks with three strikeouts. Emma Kelliher pitched the first 5.0 innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts in the no decision.

LVC grabbed a 1-0 lead with a run on three hits in the top of the first in game two and added two more runs on two hits in the top of the fifth inning. The Dutchmen would score two more runs on one hit and three errors in the top of the seventh to lead 5-0.

Jessie Smith (Millersville, MD/Severna Park) started a Wilkes rally with three outs remaining as she singled down the right field line to lead off the bottom of the seventh. Haley Boyd (Escalon, CA/Escalon) then reached on a fielder's choice as Smith was out at second. Jordyn Kondras (Willow Street, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) advanced Boyd to third with a double down the left field line as the Colonels began to threaten. Pick then doubled to right center to drive in Boyd and Kondras as Wilkes trailed 5-2 with one out. Cabry then walked and Rachel Pritchard (Wilmington, DE/Concord) singled to shortstop to load the bases. Megan Marshall (Bel Air, MD/C. Milton Wright) then pinch ran for Pick at third. Sarah Gibson (Chico, CA/Pleasant Valley) then picked up an RBI on a walk that forced Marshall across the plate to make the score 5-3. LVC then made a pitching change as Walter entered looking for the save. Calaman would reached on a fielder's choice and picked up an RBI with Cabry scoring and Pritchard out at third for the innings second out. Walter would seal the game with a strikeout to end the game with the Colonels coming up one run short in their comeback effort.

Pritchard (0-5) took the loss in the circle for Wilkes as she went 7.0 innings, allowing five runs (three earned) on 10 hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Kondras and Pritchard each went 2-for-4 at the plate for the Colonels in game two.

Sarah Musselman (5-2) earned the win for the Dutchmen as she went 6.1 innings, allowing four earned runs on seven hits with four walks and six strikeouts. Walter earned her first save of the season pitching the final 0.2 innings with the one strikeout.

The Colonels will remain at the Ralston Athletic Complex for a Senior Day doubleheader on Saturday against Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom foe Lycoming College. The senior ceremony will open the day with the first pitch of game one set for 1:00 p.m.