EDWARDSVILLE, PA – The Wilkes University Colonels softball squad hosted the Stevens Ducks for a windy Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom Friday afternoon doubleheader at the Ralston Athletic Complex.
 
The Colonels (12-12, 1-9 MACF) fought hard but couldn't overcome the Ducks (9-11, 5-1) pitching and fell 3-0 game one and 3-2 game two.
 
The Navy and Gold threatened early in game one, getting runners on first and second after a walk and a ball that drifted out of an outfielder's reach for a single.  After loaded the bases with a lone out after another walk, the Stevens pitcher got a critical strikeout on a full count to take a sacrifice play out of the equation for the Colonels.  The Ducks forced a pop out to the shortstop to end the Colonels threat. 
 
The Ducks managed to threaten in the third after a bunt and a stolen base, but a hard hit dropped at the track to keep the score at zero all.  A Ducks double in the top of the fourth gave them a runner in scoring position with a lone out after a dropped ball in the outfield.  A single into the outfield got the Ducks onto the board with runners still on second and third and two outs in the frame, but a floater past the third base line was caught by the Colonels to limit the damage.  The Stevens offense threatened again in the top of the fifth with a runner on third with one out and brought them home with a sacrifice grounder, and brought home another runner from third with a single to make it 3-0.
 
The Colonels runners on second and first with two outs in the bottom of the fifth, but a pop out to left field got Stevens out of the inning with no runs allowed.  The Ducks threatened once more in the sixth with runners on second and third after a drifting drive to right center field was just out of a Colonels reach, but the Navy and Gold outfielders did not miss the next one to get out of the inning.  The Colonels offense couldn't get runs across in the last two frames to send the Ducks into game two with a 3-0 victory. 
 
The Ducks carried their momentum into game two as a single into right field followed by a stolen base and a sacrifice grounder gave them a runner on third with one out.  A sacrifice fly to right gave them an early 1-0 lead.  A pair of walks gave the Ducks a runner in scoring position but a grounder ended the threat.  A leadoff double from Rachel Pritchard (Wilmington, DE/Concord) gave the Colonels an opportunity with no outs in the bottom of the second, with a bunt from Erin Cabry (York, PA/Central York) turning into a tying run and two bases for the Navy and Gold.  The Stevens defense settled down, leaving the game tied heading into the third. 
 
The bats remained mostly quiet until the Colonels struck in the bottom of the fifth, turning a leadoff single into a run with a fielder's choice to make it 2-1 heading into the sixth.  The Ducks managed to load the bases with two outs in the sixth after a pair of singles and a walk.  A wild pitch and a hard hit back to the pitcher gave the Ducks a 3-2 lead.  A leadoff double followed by a single to center field in the seventh gave the Ducks another scoring opportunity with runners on first and third, but the Colonels defense settled and forced two grounders and a strikeout to keep the Navy and Gold in the game. A 1-2-3 inning sealed game two and the sweep in their favor 3-2. 
 
Rhia Aurand (Avondale, PA/Avon Grove) threw seven strikeouts in a complete game loss game one, while Hope Mullins (Midland, VA/Liberty) and Sami Hendershott (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) combined for three strikeouts in a game two loss.  Both Stevens pitchers went the distance in their respective games, with Erin Kreis throwing six strikeouts in game one and Kaitlin Smith throwing four strikeouts in game two.  Erin Cabry (York, PA/Central York) hit 3 of 5 on the day while Pritchard hit .500 (three-of-six). 
 
The Colonels return to the field next Wednesday to host the Misericordia Cougars for another conference battle at the Ralston Athletic Complex.  First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. in a series the Cougars lead 24-4 in the live stats era.