EDWARDSVILLE – The Wilkes University softball team extended its current win streak to 10 games, the longest for the program since the live stats era began in 2009, as the Colonels swept visiting Elizabethtown College Wednesday in a non-conference doubleheader at the Ralston Athletic Complex. Wilkes won game one in an extra inning marathon, 10-9 in 10 innings and took game two by the eight-run rule, 11-3 in five innings.

Wilkes improved to 16-4 on the season, the best start for the program since the live stats era began in 2009 as well. Elizabethtown dropped to 7-15 with the pair of losses.

In game one the Colonels took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the first. Hana Cross (South Brunswick, NJ/South Brunswick), who doubled, scored on a Nicole Howell (Tunkhannock, PA/Tunkhannock Area) double and Howell scored on a Haylee Calaman (Elizabethtown, PA/Elizabethtown Area) single.

The Blue Jays scored a run in the top of second using a single and a double and tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the fourth with a double and a single.

Wilkes gained a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning as Nicole O'Rourke (Staten Island, NY/Susan E Wagner) singled followed by a Cross single. Hannah Boyd (Escalon, CA/Escalon) then moved both runners ahead with a sacrifice bunt. Olivia Dougher (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) then reached on an error by the shortstop allowing both O'Rourke and Cross to score.

Elizabethtown scored four runs on three hits and two errors in the top of the sixth to take a 6-4 lead.

Marissa Pick (Watsontown, PA/Warrior Run) doubled in the bottom of the sixth then Megan Marshall (Bel Air, MD/C. Milton Wright) pinch ran for her. Hayden Calaman (Elizabethtown, PA/Elizabethtown Area) would reach on an error by the shortstop and move to second as Marshall went to third. O'Rourke then hit a two-run single up the middle to tie the game at 6-6 as Marshall and Hayd. Calaman scored.

After a scoreless seventh inning the game went into extra innings where a runner would start at second base. The Blue Jays took a 7-6 lead in the top of the eighth with a sacrifice bunt and wild pitch. Taylor Double advanced to third on a passed ball in the bottom of the inning then scored on an O'Rourke single to center field to send the game to the ninth.

The Blue Jays went ahead 8-7 on a sacrifice bunt and single. Wilkes answered again in the bottom of the ninth Boyd moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Dougher then scored on a sacrifice fly by Howell.

In the tenth inning Elizabethtown went ahead 9-8 on a hit by pitch, sacrifice bunt, and RBI groundout.

Pick laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Hayl. Calaman to third in the bottom of the tenth. Douple then singled to bring in Hayl. Calaman to tie the score. Carly Endres (Vineland, NJ/Arthur P. Schalick) then singled down the left field line as a pinch hitter. With two outs, Cross singled to load the bases. Boyd then reached on a throwing error past the first baseman by the pitcher as Douple crossed the plate to score the winning run at 10-9.

Sami Hendershott (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) started in the circle for the Colonels and pitched the first seven innings in the no-decision. She gave up six runs (four earned) on nine hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Bella Peters (Lancaster, PA/Penn Manor) (4-0) earned the win as she pitched the final three innings allowing three runs (zero earned) on one hit with one walk and one strikeout.

Mikaela Benner (2-4) took the loss as she pitched 9.2 innings for the Blue Jays. She allowed 10 runs (two earned) on 14 hits with no walks and three strikeouts.

O'Rourke was 3-for-5 with three RBI's, Howell was 3-for-4 with two RBI's, and Cross was 3-for-6 with two runs. Pick was 2-for-3 with two doubles.

In game two the Colonels scored three runs in the bottom of the first. Cross doubled followed by a sacrifice bunt by Boyd. Dougher then singled up the middle to bring in Cross from third. Howell then reached on an error by the third baseman. Howell and Dougher advanced to second and third on a groundout by Hayl. Calaman and then AJ Bryfogle (Easton, PA/Easton Area) singled up the middle for two RBI's as Howell and Dougher scored to make it 3-0.

Wilkes added two runs in the third. Dougher led off with a single and advanced to second on an error by the right fielder. Howell then knocked a triple to right field to bring in Dougher. Howell then scored on the throw to first as Hayl. Calaman grounded out to third to make it 5-0.

Elizabethtown scored three runs on three hits and an error in the top of the fourth to cut the Colonels lead to 5-3.

Wilkes answered with four runs on five hits and an error in the bottom of the fourth. Hope Mullins (Midland, VA/Liberty) doubled to lead off the inning and moved to third on an Endres groundout. Cross then doubled to right center to bring in Mullins. She advanced to third on a wild pitch then scored on a single up the middle by Dougher. Howell followed with a double to left center as Dougher scored. Hayl. Calaman then singled to center and Howell scored as the center fielder made an error as the Colonels lead went to 9-3 after four innings.

Endres walked with two outs in the fifth and moved to third when pinch hitter Kayla Burleson (West Chester, PA/B. Reed Henderson) reached on an error by the second baseman on a pop up down the line behind first base. Boyd then doubled to the center field fence as Endres and Burleson scored to end the game with the eight-run rule at 11-3.

Lauren DeMarco (Merrick, NY/Sanford H. Calhoun) (6-1) started and went 3.0 innings to earn the win for Wilkes. She allowed just one hit with four strikeouts. Mullins then pitched the next 2.0 innings allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

Tori Caputo (2-3) started and took the loss for Elizabethtown as she went 3.2 innings allowing nine runs (six earned) on 11 hits with no walks and one strikeout. Gianna Anzideo pitched 1.0 innings in relief allowing two runs (zero earned) on one hit and one walk.

Dougher was 3-for-3 with two RBI's and three runs. Howell was 2-for-3 with two RBI's and three runs. Cross went 2-for-3 with two doubles and two runs. Boyd and Bryfogle added two RBI's.

The Colonels return to the field tomorrow at the Ralston Athletic Complex putting their 10-game win streak on the line in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom play against FDU-Florham. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. The doubleheader will be part of the NFCA Strikeout Cancer Games for the Colonels.