WEEHAWKEN, NJ – The seventh-seeded Wilkes University softball team ended its 2021 campaign by dropping both ends of a Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) Quarterfinal doubleheader to second-seeded Stevens Institute of Technology Saturday afternoon at Waterfront Park. Stevens took game one 3-0 and game two 5-0.

Wilkes finished the season with a 5-17 overall record while Stevens moves into next weekend's MAC Freedom Semifinals with an 18-6 record.

The Ducks grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning of game one following a walk and sacrifice bunt followed by a run-scoring double Abigail Circelli. Stevens added two runs in the fourth inning on two hits, one error and three walks with Meg Halloran and Gina DeOliveira picking up RBI singles.

Wilkes was unable to muster much offense in game one as Jessie Masur (12-1) pitched a one-hitter with eight strikeouts. Hope Mullins (Midland, VA/Liberty) (3-3) started in the circle for the Colonels, allowing three runs on four hits and seven walks in 4.0 innings. Rachel Pritchard (Wilmington, DE/Concord) pitched the final 2.0 scoreless innings allowing two hits and one walk with three strikeouts.

Stevens took the 1-0 lead in game two in the bottom of the third frame on an RBI single up the middle by Alex Schoellig. The Ducks lead would grow by three in the fifth as Circelli brought in a run with a sacrifice fly and Siobhan Cottell knocked a two-run single to left. DeOliveira brought in the final run in the sixth inning with a groundout to shortstop.

Wilkes put more pressure on the Ducks defense in game two with six hits but the Colonels were again unable to score any runs. Rhia Aurand (Avondale, PA/Avon Grove) went 2-for-3 in the game while Jordyn Kondras (Willow Street, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg), Sarah Gibson (Chico, CA/Pleasant Valley), Haley Boyd (Escalon, CA/Escalon), and Pritchard picked up one hit each. Erin Cabry (York, PA/Central York) had the hit for Wilkes in game one.

Aurand (2-5) went 6.0 innings allowing five runs (four earned) on 11 hits with no walks and seven strikeouts in the circle for the Colonels.

Erin Kreis (6-5) earned the complete-game shutout allowing six hits with one walk and eight strikeouts.