EDWARDSVILLE, PA – The Wilkes University Colonels softball squad hosted the Arcadia Knights for a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom doubleheader Tuesday afternoon at the Ralston Athletic Complex.
 
The Colonels (10-8, 1-5 MACF) fought valiantly but couldn't overcome the Knights (18-5, 5-1) pitching as they lost 3-2 and 3-0 respectively.
 
Hope Mullins (Midland, VA/Liberty) shut down the Knights through her first two innings, while the Colonels threatened with runners at second and third after a sacrifice ground ball in the bottom of the second.  A deep double that very nearly got over the fence from Kaylie Capriotti (Levittown, PA/Pennsbury) brought in both runners to give the Colonels a 2-0 lead after two. 
 
Neither team mustered much offense until the top of the fifth, where Arcadia found themselves with runners on first and third with no outs after a throwing error by the Colonels.  A foul pop out moved a runner from first to second, but Arcadia hit a series of grounders that let the Colonels get out of the jam.  The Knights threatened again in the top of the sixth with runners on second and third and a out after a wild pitch, and brought home the runner on third with a single down the first base line, and tied it at two all with a deep sacrifice fly to right field.  
 
The Knights stole a base with two outs in the top of the seventh to put the go-ahead run on second and brought it in with a double to deep left to go up 3-2.  The Colonels couldn't muster a response against the Knights pitching in the bottom of the seventh and fell by one run. 
 
The Knights got into scoring position early in game two, a sacrifice bunt putting a runner on third with one out, but the Colonels gout out without any damage done.  The Colonels took advantage of Arcadia's wild pitching to get runners on first and third with two outs in the bottom of the second and loaded the bases with a walk, but the Knights got a key strikeout to keep it scoreless heading into the third. 
 
A home run from the Arcadia pitcher made it 1-0 Knights in the top of the third.  The Colonels got the bases loaded once more with two outs in the bottom of the fourth but a fly to right field ended the threat.  A sacrifice bunt put a runner on second with two outs for Arcadia in the top of the fifth, but a grounder to the first baseman ended the inning.  Arcadia had runners on first and third with no outs in the top of the sixth and brought home a runner with a deep double to center field for a 2-0 lead.  A sacrifice grounder made it 3-0 Arcadia. 
 
A leadoff double gave the Colonels an opportunity to cut into their deficit in the bottom of the sixth but a fielder's choice eliminated the runner.  Arcadia put themselves in position to extend their 3-0 lead in the top of the seventh, but a light grounder to first kept the Colonels in the game. 
 
Julianna Presto earned the victory in both games for the Knights and hit what proved to be the winning run in game two with her home run, and threw 16 strikeouts in nine innings pitched.  Hope Mullins (Midland, VA/Liberty) and Rhia Aurand (Avondale, PA/Avon Grove) both pitched complete games in game one and two respectively, with both taking a loss.  Aurand threw three strikeouts, while Mullins only allowed two earned runs.
 
The Colonels are scheduled to return to the field tomorrow for a non-conference doubleheader against Marywood at the Ralston Athletic Complex.  First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. in a series the Colonels lead 12-6 in the live stats era.