ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. – The Wilkes University softball team completed their regular season on the road Saturday afternoon, sweeping Elizabethtown College at The Nest 5-4 in game one and 4-0 in game two.

Wilkes improves to 16-14 on the year and 10-6 in conference play. With results from other games in-conference, Wilkes secured the four-seed in the Landmark Conference playoffs, their first postseason appearance since 2019 and first as a part of the conference.

The hosts opened the scoring in game one, with two runs in the bottom of the first. Maddy Maloney (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) cut the lead in half in the top of the second with a single to left center, scoring Paige Randazzo (Phillipsburg, NJ/Phillipsburg). The Blue Jays then added a run in the second and fourth innings to extend the lead to 4-1.

Wilkes' offense came alive in the sixth inning, as Talia Piragas' (Old Forge, PA/Old Forge) groundout drove home Mia Butka (Scranton, PA/West Scranton). Oliva Dougher then brought the Colonels within a run with a double down the left field line to make it a 4-3 game.

In the seventh inning with a runner on first, Hana Cross (Kendall Park, NJ/South Brunswick) lifted the Colonels to a 5-4 lead with a two-run homer to left center. The Wilkes defense then retired the side to take the come-from-behind victory.

Butka (6-6) picked up the win in a complete-game effort, allowing four runs (three earned) with two strikeouts. Butka also made a spectacular play in the sixth inning, diving for a pop fly and completing the double play to keep Etown off the board. At the plate, Cross led the way going 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

Jess Dunn (2-8) was given the decision, going the distance allowing five runs with one strikeout. Skye Zolomij led the Blue Jays going 2-for-3 with two doubles.

Cross continued her hot streak into game two, scoring the first run of the game in the third inning on a single up the middle. Dougher added to the lead in the fourth with a double to left-center, followed by a bases-loaded hit by pitch for Tessa Stafursky (Eynon, PA/Valley View) in the fifth to take a 3-0 lead.

Cross put the final nail in the coffin in the top of the sixth, driving home Hannah Boyd (Escalon, CA/Escalon) with a single through the left side. The Colonel defense held strong to deliver the shutout victory to close the regular season.

Lauren DeMarco (Merrick, NY/Sanford H. Calhoun) (8-3) pitched the shutout win, going the distance with six strikeouts. Cross continued her dominant day at the plate going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a double. Dougher also had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 at the plate.

Mikaela Benner (5-11) took the loss, allowing three runs on eight hits through five innings. Four Blue Jays registered hits in the game.

Wilkes now moves on to the Landmark Conference Tournament opening game, hosting the No. 5 seeded Drew University Rangers on Tuesday, May 6 at the Ralston Athletic Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.