BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Wilkes University softball team traveled to Blue and Grey Field on Saturday afternoon, splitting its conference-opening doubleheader against reigning Landmark Conference champion Moravian University.

With the split, Wilkes moves to 8-2 overall and 1-1 in Landmark Conference play, while Moravian now stands at 7-7 overall and 1-1 in conference action.

Game 1: Wilkes 2, Moravian 0
Both teams remained scoreless early as the defenses held firm and limited baserunners through the first two innings. Wilkes broke through in the top of the third, stringing together timely at-bats to take control of the game.

Paige Randazzo (Phillipsburg, NJ/Phillipsburg) sparked the rally with a leadoff walk, and Victoria Butler (Mountain Top, PA/Crestwood) followed by reaching on a fielder's choice to move Randazzo into scoring position. A sacrifice bunt by Hana Cross (Kendall Park, NJ/South Brunswick) advanced both runners, putting immediate pressure on the Greyhounds' defense. After a strikeout by Sarah DeStefano momentarily halted the momentum, Maddy Maloney (Scranton, PA/Lackawanna College) delivered the key hit of the inning, lining a two-RBI single to right field to give the Colonels a 2-0 lead. Moravian recorded the final out to end the inning, but Lauren DeMarco (Merrick, NY/Sanford H. Calhoun) responded by retiring the side in order to maintain the advantage heading into the fourth.

From there, Wilkes' defense remained composed, shutting down the Greyhounds' offense the rest of the way. DeMarco was dominant in the circle, closing out the game by striking out the final batter on three pitches to secure her first shutout of the season.

DeMarco improved to 2-1 on the year, tossing a complete-game shutout with five strikeouts while allowing no runs. DeStefano took the loss for Moravian, pitching all seven innings and surrendering five hits and two unearned runs.

Game 2: Wilkes 1, Moravian 3
In the second game of the doubleheader, both pitchers came out sharp, retiring the first six batters on just 12 combined pitches to keep the game scoreless early. Moravian broke through in the third inning, as Emma Grace delivered a solo home run following an eight-pitch at-bat to give the Greyhounds a 1-0 lead.

The Greyhounds added to their advantage in the fourth when Marcie Silberman launched a solo homer to extend the lead to 2-0. Wilkes responded in the fifth, as Olivia Dougher (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) sparked the offense with a single to right before advancing to third on a Paige Randazzo (Phillipsburg, NJ/Phillipsburg) base hit to right-center. Victoria Butler (Mountain Top, PA/Crestwood) followed with an RBI single up the middle to plate Dougher and cut the deficit to one before Moravian recorded the final out of the inning.

Moravian answered with another run in the bottom half of the fifth to push the lead back to two. Mia Butka (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) entered in relief for Wilkes and recorded the final two outs of the inning to limit further damage. The Colonels threatened late, but were unable to capitalize as the Greyhounds held on for a 3-1 victory.

Rinda was charged with her first loss of the season, pitching 4.1 innings and allowing three runs on five hits. Kyra Holtje earned her third win, tossing a complete game while surrendering one run on four hits.