Wilkes Softball Begins Home Opener with Sweep Over Keystone in Doubleheader
EDWARDSVILLE – The Wilkes University softball team had their first home opener doubleheader where they swept Keystone College in non-conference action on Wednesday afternoon at the Ralston Athletic Complex. Wilkes would get by with a 2-1 win over Keystone in the first game while The Colonels scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth to roll over the Giants 7-2.
Wilkes would improve their record to 8-4 on the season. Keystone would fall to 1-7 on the year.
The first game started slowly as both teams would only get one hit and one runner left on base in the top of the first inning. Keystone would break the tie as Mallory Perkins would get on base from a fielder's choice, advance to third on a double by Courtney Cienki and get home from a single off Angelina Morley to get the Giants up 1-0.
The Colonels would wait until the bottom of the third to tie it up. Hana Cross (South Brunswick, NJ/South Brunswick) would walk to first base, steal second, and make it to third on a sacrifice bunt by Hannah Boyd (Escalon, CA/Escalon) before Olivia Dougher (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) brought her home on a sacrifice fly to center field to make it even at 1-1.
It would take Wilkes an inning before they took the lead. Megan Marshall (Bel Air, MD/C. Milton Wright) would pinch run at second base for Allison Radicchi (Binghamton, NY/Windsor Central) , making it home off an error by the shortstop to make it 2-1 for the Colonels. The Giants would get as close as second base for the tying one including a double in the bottom of the seventh by Morley, but Bella Peters (Lancaster, PA/Penn Manor) would get two strikes out in the last inning to give Wilkes a 2-1 win in game 1.
Howell went 2-for-3 at bat while Cross and Marshall both scored. Peters (2-0) only allowed seven hits with two strikeouts, allowing one run in 7.0 innings in the first game. Cienki (0-2) pitched 6.0 innings as she only gave up two runs, one error, and five hits while striking out five batters.
The second game saw the Colonels go up early. With one out left, Dougher doubled to left center field. Nicole Howell (Tunkhannock, PA/Tunkhannock Area) would bring Dougher home on a double to the left side of the field to make it 1-0. Haylee Calaman (Elizabethtown, PA/Elizabethtown Area) reached on an error by the left fielder, allowing Howell to race home and make it 2-0 for the Colonels to finish the bottom of the first inning.
Wilkes would earn another run to extend their lead in the bottom of the third as Dougher doubled, went to third on an unassisted out on Howell, then made it home on a sacrifice fly to center field to make the contest 3-0 in favor of the Colonels.
The Giants would get within reach of the lead as they would get two scores at the top of the fifth inning. After getting hit by a pitch and stealing second, Isabella Mandarano would make it to third from a Kabrina Birmingham single before being brought home off a bunt single by Mara Brooks. Birmingham would get to third off the bunt, heading to home when Hanaje Riley would get picked off at second to make it 3-2 in favor of Wilkes after the top of the fifth.
Needing to keep a hold of their lead, the Colonels would finish the bottom of the sixth inning with four runs. Cross would walk to first, then advance to third after a double to center field by Boyd. Dougher singled to left field, bringing home Cross. After Dougher would steal second, she would follow behind Boyd as they would both get to home plate from Howell's triple to right field. Hayl. Calaman would double to right field, getting Howell home and securing a 7-4 lead for Wilkes in the final inning. Sami Hendershott (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) would strike out two of the three batters, finishing the game and giving the Colonels the sweep over Keystone.
Dougher went 3-for-4 at bat with three runs with Howell going 2-for-4 and two scores. Boyd also went 2-for-4 at bat, earning one run along with Cross. Hendershott (2-0) pitched 7.0 innings, allowing two runs and five hits as she struck out four batters. Clare Johns (1-4) pitched 6.0 innings and allowed seven runs on the day, also striking out four Colonels at the plate.
Wilkes will begin Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) action this Saturday at the Ralston Athletic Complex when they host Delaware Valley in a doubleheader that begins at 1:00 p.m.
