DeMarco's 12-Strikeout Shutout Leads Wilkes Softball to Split with FDU-Florham
EDWARDSVILLE – Lauren DeMarco (Merrick, NY/Sanford H. Calhoun) pitched a 12-strikeout shutout in game two and Nicole Howell (Tunkhannock, PA/Tunkhannock Area) scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Wilkes University softball team won 1-0 to split its Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) doubleheader with FDU-Florham Thursday night at the Ralston Athletic Complex. FDU-Florham took game one 7-4 behind a seven-run seventh.
Wilkes improved to 17-5 overall and 3-3 in the MAC Freedom. FDU-Florham is now 8-9 overall and 1-7 in conference.
A game two pitcher's duel went scoreless into the seventh as Olivia Dougher (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) singled up the middle to lead off the bottom of the seventh. She was then out at second on a fielder's choice to shortstop by Howell. Howell went to second when the second baseman's throw went wild to first trying to turn two. Haylee Calaman (Elizabethtown, PA/Elizabethtown Area) then singled to left field and moved Howell to third as she went to second on the throw. Howell then scored on a wild pitch to win the game.
DeMarco (7-1) struck out a career high 12 batters in the game two win as she went the complete seven innings. She allowed just two hits in the game and did not walk a batter. It is her fifth complete game of the season and fourth shutout.
Bella Hills (1-2) took the loss as she went 6.1 innings allowing one run (zero earned) on four hits with three strikeouts and no walks.
Game one went scoreless into the fifth inning when the Colonels broke through for a run. Hayden Calaman (Elizabethtown, PA/Elizabethtown Area) hit a one-out single to right center then with two outs went to third on a double by Nicole O'Rourke (Staten Island, NY/Susan E Wagner). Hana Cross (South Brunswick, NJ/South Brunswick) then reached on a throwing error by the third baseman allowing Hayd. Calaman to score to make it 1-0.
The lead stood until the top of the seventh when the Devils were able to breakthrough for seven runs on three hits, one error, three walks, and two hit batters.
Wilkes tried to make a last ditch comeback to keep its win streak alive but had to settle for three runs in the bottom of the seventh in the 7-4 loss. Hayd. Calaman singled and Sami Hendershott (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) walked. O'Rourke then doubled to bring in Hayd. Calaman. Later O'Rourke scored on a play where Hannah Boyd (Escalon, CA/Escalon) reached on an error with Hendershott out at home and Boyd in a rundown safe at second as O'Rourke crossed the plate. Dougher then singled down the right field line to bring in Boyd.
Hope Mullins (Midland, VA/Liberty) (2-3) took the loss in the circle as she went 6.1 innings allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Hendershott pitched the final 0.2 inning allowing two runs (zero earned) on one hit with one walk, two hit batters, and one strikeout.
Ciara Hoffman (4-4) earned win for FDU-Florham as she went the complete seven innings allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits with two walks and six strikeouts.
Hayd. Calaman and O'Rourke were 2-for-3 in game one as Calaman had two runs and O'Rourke had two doubles.
The Colonels are idle through the Easter holiday before returning to the field to finish their home stand with a non-conference doubleheader against Susquehanna University on Wednesday, April 12. First pitch for game one on Little League Night is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
