EDWARDSVILLE – The Wilkes University softball team swept both games of a non-conference doubleheader against Penn State Hazleton Wednesday evening at the Ralston Athletic Complex. Wilkes took game one 7-2 and game two 5-1.

Wilkes improved to 9-5 overall this season with the pair of wins while Penn State Hazleton dropped to 1-7.

The Nittany Lions opened game one with two runs in the top of the first inning. Wilkes took the lead in the bottom of the second, scoring five times. Rachel Pritchard (Wilmington, DE/Concord) led off with a walk and then moved to second on a passed ball. She would then score on an error by the left fielder on a ball hit by Rhia Aurand (Avondale, PA/Avon Grove). Aurand would later score when Sami Hendershott (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) reached on a fielder's choice. Marissa Pick (Watsontown, PA/Warrior Run) followed with a single through the right side and Nicole O'Rourke (Staten Island, NY/Susan E Wagner) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Haylee Calaman (Elizabethtown, PA/Elizabethtown Area) then knocked a three-run double down the right field line to make it 5-2.

Wilkes added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Calaman was hit by a pitch and then went to second on a single by Erin Cabry (York, PA/Central York). Pritchard then doubled to bring in Calaman but Cabry was out at home on the play. Jessie Smith (Millersville, MD/Severna Park) then reached on an error by the centerfielder that allowed Pritchard to score.

Bella Peters (Lancaster, PA/Penn Manor) (2-1) earned the win as she pitched 5.0 innings for the Colonels. She allowed two runs on seven hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Emily Murphy (Philadelphia, PA/St. Hubert Catholic) pitched the final 2.0 innings, allowing just one hit and one walk.

Cabry went 3-for-4 and Calaman was 2-for-3 with three RBI's to lead the way at the plate in game one.

Wilkes jumped ahead in game two with a three-run bottom of the first. Caylee-Mae Williams (Yuba City, CA/River Valley) led off with a single and moved to second on a Hannah Boyd (Escalon, CA/Escalon) sacrifice bunt. After a Hayden Calaman (Elizabethtown, PA/Elizabethtown Area) walk and a line out, Nicole Howell (Tunkhannock, PA/Tunkhannock Area) doubled to center to bring in Williams and Calaman. Smith then singled through the right side to make it 3-0.

The Colonels added two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Allison Radicchi (Binghamton, NY/Windsor Central) led off with a single and went to third on two passed balls, the second of which allowed Carly Endres (Vineland, NJ/Arthur P. Schalick) to reach base. Cheyenne Jenner (Montrose, PA/Elk Lake) then singled to center to bring in Radicchi and move Endres to third. She then scored when Jenner stole second to make the score 5-0.

The Nittany Lions scored one run in the top of the fifth, but Hope Mullins (Midland, VA/Liberty) was able to get out of a bases loaded jam with a strikeout.

Mullins (3-1) earned the victory as she pitched 5.0 innings allowing one run (zero earned) on six hits and two walks with seven strikeouts. Tinsley Sarnak (Exeter, PA/Wyoming Area) made her season debut in the circle for the Colonels as she pitched the final 2.0 innings allowing just two hits.

Smith and Radicchi each went 2-for-3 in game two and Howell led Wilkes with two RBI's.

The Colonels return to action on Saturday for a Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom doubleheader at FDU-Florham starting at 12:00 p.m. in Madison, N.J.