EDWARDSVILLE, Pa. – The Wilkes softball team lost two close Landmark Conference contests against Juniata College on Sunday afternoon, falling 5-4 in game one and 1-0 in game two at the Ralston Athletic Complex in their NFCA Strike Out Cancer games.

The Colonels fall to 10-8 overall and 1-3 in Landmark play, while the Eagles improve to 12-10 on the year and 6-1 in Landmark play.

Juniata opened the scoring of game one in the first inning, taking an early 2-0 lead. Olivia Dougher (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) scored on a throwing error in the bottom of the second to bring the Colonels within one run and drove in the tying run in the third with a single to right field.  Nicole Howell (Tunkhannock, PA/Tunkhannock Area) gave the Colonels the lead in the next at-bat with a two-run blast to left field, making it 4-2 Colonels.

The Colonel defense was lights-out for the next three innings, but Juniata equalized in the seventh inning with a two-run homer of their own from Alison Superka. Claire Thomas put the Eagles ahead later in the inning with a solo home run to center field, giving the Eagles the win in game one 5-4.

Mia Butka (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) (2-5) pitched 6.2 innings in the loss, allowing five runs (four earned) on 12 hits with three strikeouts.  Howell led the Colonels at the plate going 2-for-3 with her first home run of the season and two RBIs. Dougher also finished the game 2-for-3 with one RBI.

Maryn Swank (5-4) pitched a complete game in her win, allowing four runs (three earned) on 10 hits with two strikeouts. Superka led the Eagles going 2-for-3 with three RBIs.

Juniata once again started strong, scoring the game's lone run in the first inning as Superka brought home another run on the day with a single to left field. The Colonel defense only allowed five hits on the day but couldn't get the offense to match and fell 1-0.

Lauren DeMarco (Merrick, NY/Sanford H. Calhoun) (4-1) had another strong outing in the loss, allowing one run on five hits with six strikeouts. Hayden Calaman (Elizabethtown, PA/Elizabethtown Area) led the Colonel offense in game two going 2-for-3 from the plate.

Kenzie Tapias pitched 3.1 innings in the allowing five hits with two strikeouts, but it was Gracie Ruch (4-1) who earned the win pitching 3.2 innings allowing only one hit. Five Eagles registered a single hit, while Superka had the lone RBI of the second game.

The Colonels hit the road for their next contest, traveling to face Lycoming College in another Landmark Conference doubleheader on Tuesday, April 9. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.