DOYLESTOWN, PA – The Wilkes University Colonels traveled to face the Delaware Valley Aggies in a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom doubleheader Saturday afternoon.
 
The Colonels (13-15, 2-12 MACF) took game one 5-4 before falling to the Aggies (9-20, 3-9) 7-2 in the second game.
 
Hope Mullins (Midland, VA/Liberty) and Olivia Monismith both pitched a scoreless first four innings in game one, but the Colonels offense managed three runs in the fifth. A trio of singles from Nicole Howell (Tunkhannock, PA/Tunkhannock Area), Mullins, and Rachel Pritchard (Wilmington, DE/Concord) brought in a run each to give the Navy and Gold a 3-0 lead.  A single down the right side brought in two runs for the Aggies to make it 3-2 after five.
 
Howell struck again in the sixth to make it 4-2, but a home run from the Aggies kept them within one after six.  Kayla Burleson (West Chester, PA/B. Reed Henderson) brought in what turned out to be the winning run with a single to right field in the seventh inning, while Delaware Valley fell just shy after doubling in a run in the bottom of the seventh.  Rhia Aurand (Avondale, PA/Avon Grove) earned the victory in relief and combined with Mullins to throw six strikeouts, while Monismith threw seven strikeouts in the loss.
 
Delaware Valley jumped out ahead in game two with five runs in two innings while the Colonels offense sputtered against Katherine Beckett, who held them scoreless through six innings with only three hits.  The Aggies would tack on two more in the bottom of the fifth, but the Colonels would break the scoreless streak with Howell doubling in a run in the bottom of the seventh for her third RBI of the afternoon, and Emma Stauffer (Media, PA/Penncrest) hit a sacrifice fly to right field to bring Howell home to finalize the 7-2 tally.
 
Howell finished the afternoon hitting .500 (three of six) with three RBIs and a double, while Mullins helped her own outing out in game one going two for two at the plate with an RBI.
 
The Colonels will return home to face Marywood in a doubleheader on Tuesday.  First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. in a series the Navy and Gold lead 12-6 in the live stats era.