EDWARDSVILLE – The Wilkes University softball team swept a non-conference doubleheader Wednesday at the Ralston Athletic Complex over visiting Penn State Hazleton on Faculty Appreciation Day. Wilkes won game one in a tight contest 5-4 in eight innings before winning game two 8-0 in five innings.

Wilkes improved to 12-4 overall with the pair of wins. Penn State Hazleton dropped to 2-10 overall.

The Colonels started game one with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Hana Cross (South Brunswick, NJ/South Brunswick) led off with a double to right center and then moved to third on Hannah Boyd's (Escalon, CA/Escalon) single as she was able to advance to second on the throw. Olivia Dougher (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) hit a sacrifice fly to center to bring in Cross for the first run. Nicole Howell (Tunkhannock, PA/Tunkhannock Area) singled to center field as Boyd was able to score from second to increase the lead to 2-0.

The Nittany Lions tied the game in the top of the fourth with two runs on two hits and two errors by Wilkes. Penn State took the lead in the top of the sixth with a leadoff single and a two-out RBI double to the right field fence to make it 3-2.

Wilkes tied the game in the bottom of the sixth as Cross singled up the middle. She stole second and gained third as the throw by the catcher went into center. She continued home on the play when the throw from center got away from the third baseman to tie the score at 3-3.

Penn State Hazleton gained the lead back in the top of the seventh using three hits and one error by the Colonels to go ahead 4-3.

Howell reached on a throwing error by the shortstop and advanced to second on the same error. Haylee Calaman (Elizabethtown, PA/Elizabethtown Area) then laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Howell to third. Marissa Pick (Watsontown, PA/Warrior Run) followed with the game-tying sacrifice fly to center field as Howell came across to make it 4-4 as the game went to extra innings.

In the top of the eighth Bella Peters (Lancaster, PA/Penn Manor) was able to get the Nittany Lions out in order. Nicole O'Rourke (Staten Island, NY/Susan E Wagner) started the bottom of the eighth at second base for Wilkes with Peters up at the plate. She laid down a sacrifice bunt and the pitcher's throw went over the covering glove at first allowing her to reach on the error and O'Rourke to cross home plate for the winning run.

Peters (3-0) pitched all eight innings in the circle to earn the win, allowing four runs (two earned) on nine hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

Hattie Flood took the loss for Penn State Hazleton pitching the full seven-plus innings allowing five runs (two earned) on nine hits with two walks.

Cross was 4-for-4 at the plate for Wilkes with two runs. Taylor Douple (Fredericksburg, PA/Northern Lebanon) was 2-for-3 at the plate while Dougher, Howell, and Pick each had one RBI.

In game two the Colonels started hot at the plate as they hit three doubles in the bottom of the first inning which resulted in two runs. Cross led off with a double then moved to third on a fly out to right by Boyd. Dougher then hit an RBI-groundout to second to bring in Cross. Howell then doubled down the right field line and scored on Hayl. Calaman's double to left field to make it 2-0.

Sami Hendershott (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) got out of a bases-loaded no outs jam in the top of the second inning by getting three straight ground balls. Wilkes added three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Hayden Calaman (Elizabethtown, PA/Elizabethtown Area) singled to right and advanced to second on an error. O'Rourke then laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Calaman to third and Hendershott doubled to right field to bring in Calaman to make it 3-0. Cross then singled to left to move Hendershott to third. Cross stole second and the catcher's throw went wild into center field allowing her to third and Hendershott to score. Boyd then hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring in Cross and make the score 5-0 Colonels after two.

In the bottom of the fifth inning Howell reached on an error then Hayl. Calaman walked. After a line out, Hayd. Calaman reached on a fielder's choice with Howell out at third. O'Rourke then singled to left to bring in Hayl. Calaman from second. Hendershott then singled to shortstop to load the bases. Cross then singled up the middle off the pitcher with a hard line drive to pick up two RBI's as bothboth Hayd. Calaman and O'Rourke scored to end the game with the eight-run rule.

Hendershott (3-0) earned the shutout win as she went all five innings allowing four hits and four walks.

Paige Parisi took the loss for the Nittany Lions in game two. She went 4.2 innings allowing eight runs (four earned) on 11 hits with two walks.

Cross went 3-for-4 with two RBI's and two runs to finish the day 7-for-8 at the plate. Howell and Hendershott were 2-for-3 in game two.

The Colonels continue their string of home games hosting Albright College on Saturday for a non-conference doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m. at the Ralston Athletic Complex.