EDWARDSVILLE, Pa. – The Wilkes University softball team earned a series sweep over Juniata College Saturday afternoon at the Ralston Athletic Complex during the Julia (Hockey) Mazur Foundation Game. With the pair of wins, the Colonels improve to 17-13 overall and 6–6 in Landmark Conference play, while the Eagles fall to 13-21 overall and 3-9 in conference action.

Game 1: Wilkes 3, Juniata 0
Mia Butka (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) secured her fifth win of the season with a dominant performance in the circle, tossing a complete-game shutout as Wilkes claimed a 3-0 victory in game one. The Scranton native faced 28 batters, allowing just six hits while striking out three and issuing no walks. Butka also reached a career milestone early, recording her 100th career strikeout in the first inning.

Wilkes opened the scoring in the second inning when Hana Cross (Kendall Park, NJ/South Brunswick) delivered an RBI single down the right field line to plate Olivia Dougher (Scranton, PA/West Scranton). Talia Piragas (Old Forge, PA/Old Forge) followed with an RBI to bring home Paige Randazzo (Phillipsburg, NJ/Phillipsburg) and extend the lead.

After a scoreless third, Victoria Butler (Mountain Top, PA/Crestwood) doubled to right field and later scored on an RBI single from Allyson Stafursky (Eynon, PA/Valley View) to give the Colonels a 3-0 advantage.

From there, Butka and the Wilkes defense took control, holding Juniata scoreless over the final three innings to secure the shutout win.

Dougher and Stafursky led the offense with two hits apiece, while Stafursky, Cross, and Piragas each recorded an RBI.

Game 2: Wilkes 4, Juniata 0

Both teams were held scoreless in the opening inning as Lauren DeMarco (Merrick, NY/Sanford H. Calhoun) and Juniata's Maddy Detz kept hitters off balance early.

Wilkes broke through in the second, as Cross and Butler came around to score on a two-RBI double to right-center from Stafursky to give the Colonels a 2-0 lead.

The Colonels added another run in the third when Butka doubled down the left field line and later scored on an RBI single from Dougher.

After several scoreless innings, Wilkes added an insurance run in the sixth. Dana Messner (Oley, PA/Oley Valley) recorded her first hit of the season with a triple to left field, and Julia Kapitula (Mount Olive, NJ/Mount Olive) followed with an RBI single to push the lead to 4-0.

DeMarco closed out the game in the seventh, retiring the side in order to complete the shutout and secure the sweep.

DeMarco improved to 6-5 on the season, allowing just two hits while striking out five in a complete-game effort. Dougher and Butka each went 2-for-3 at the plate, while Stafursky led the team with two RBIs.

Detz took the loss for Juniata, allowing two runs over two innings. Grace Hensch and Claire Thomas recorded the Eagles' only hits of the game.

Wilkes returns to action on Tuesday, April 21, when it hosts Immaculata University for a non-conference doubleheader at the Ralston Athletic Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.