MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Wilkes Softball team opened their 2026 campaign earning a pair of wins over Vermont State Johnson and Waynesburg Sunday Afternoon in Myrtle Beach.

The Colonels improve to 2-0 on the young season while the Badgers fall to 0-5 and the Yellow Jackets fall to 4-2.

Game 1: Wilkes 9, Vermont State 1
The Badgers opened the scoring in the bottom of the first as Taylor Reddick drove in Kristie Zator to take an early 1-0 lead. The Colonels responded immediately. Victoria Butler (Mountain Top, PA/Crestwood) sparked the offense with a hard-hit ball to third that Peyton Niles was unable to handle, allowing Butler to reach safely. Wilkes capitalized from there, loading the bases before taking advantage of two pitching errors that brought Butler and Brylie Ketterer (Birdsboro, PA/Twin Valley) home to give the Colonels the lead.

Talia Piragas (Old Forge, PA/Old Forge) and Olivia Dougher (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) each added an RBI to extend the advantage, sending Wilkes into the third inning up 4-1.

The Colonels' defense took control the rest of the way, holding the Badgers scoreless for the remainder of the game. Meanwhile, Wilkes' offense stayed aggressive at the plate, plating runs in every inning to secure the 9-1 victory.

Brylie Ketterer (Birdsboro, PA/Twin Valley) and Butler led the Blue and Gold with two hits apiece, while Hana Cross (Kendall Park, NJ/South Brunswick) drove in a team-high two RBIs.

Alexa Stahl (Montoursville, PA/Montoursville Area) earned her first win of the season in the circle, tossing three innings and allowing just three hits and one run. Hannah Corvino took the loss for the Badgers, pitching four innings and surrendering five runs.

Game 2: Wilkes 6, Waynesburg 0
In game two of the day, Wilkes totaled eight hits in a 6-0 shutout victory over Waynesburg.

After a scoreless first inning, Allyson Stafursky (Eynon, PA/Valley View) put the Colonels on the board with a two-run RBI single that scored Olivia Dougher (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) and Samantha Peterson to give Wilkes an early advantage. The Yellow Jackets held the Colonels in check through the third and fourth innings, but Wilkes broke the game open in the fifth.

Piragas drove in a run to extend the lead before Mia Butka (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) doubled down the left field line, bringing home two more and pushing the Colonels ahead by five. Wilkes added one final insurance run before closing the door defensively to secure the 6-0 win.

Piragas led the way offensively, going 3-4 at the plate, while A. Stafursky finished 2-3.

First-year Audrey Rinda (Easton, PA/Easton Area) earned her first collegiate victory in dominant fashion, tossing a complete-game shutout. Rinda struck out nine batters while allowing just six hits across seven innings of work. Pressley Meadows took the loss for the Yellow Jackets, pitching four innings and giving up five runs on six hits.