Softball

Wilkes University 3, Delaware Valley 0 (Game 1)
Delaware Valley 4, Wilkes University 3 (Game 2)

EDWARDSVILLE (PA) - Freshman catcher Nicole Dorney's two-run homer off all-region pitcher Laurie Agresti lifted Delaware Valley College to a 4-3 victory in game two and a split of a Freedom Conference doubleheader at Wilkes University. The Colonels won the first contest by a 4-0 score.

The Aggies are now 9-16 overall and 3-7 in conference play with the split while Wilkes sees its records move to 20-8 overall and 7-3 in the Freedom.

Delaware Valley scored a pair of unearned runs in the second inning of game two to take a lead it would never relinquish. Dorney reached on an error and moved to second on a sacrifice by Kelly Andrews. Maureen Ferguson also reached on an error. Ferguson was able to gain second base on the play, while Dorney went to third. Jennifer Bummer singled to score Dorney and make it 1-0. A double by starting pitcher Kirstyn Ruhling plated Ferguson to extend the lead to 2-0.

Wilkes would close to within 2-1 in the fourth. Jan Nunemacher singled and went to third on a pair of ground outs. Becky Plebani would drive home Nunemacher with a single.

However, Delaware Valley answered with two in the sixth off of Agresti, who came in to replace starter Sarah Plavchak with one out in the second. Katie Leach began the inning with a single and went to second on a wild pitch. After Agresti fanned Fawn Harmer for the first out, Dorney cracked a two-run homer, her second of the season to push the Aggie lead to 4-1.

The Lady Colonels tallied a run in the sixth to make it 4-2 on a Marie Ciechoski sacrifice fly. Wilkes then had a chance to tie the game in their final at-bat as Nadine Taylor led off with a walk and scored on a triple by Andrea Dominick with no outs.

However, Ruhling struck out Alexis Petite and got Nunemacher to pop out to second base for the first two outs. Julie Henry followed with a walk and pinch-runner Alex Ingram immediately stole second. Sarah Miller slapped a fly ball to right-center field that was run down by Leach to end the game.

Ruhling, a freshman, allowed 10 hits and two earned runs while striking out four as she improved to 7-5 on the season. The Aggies had only four hits in game two, including the home run by Dorney and the double by Ruhling. Leach and Jennifer Bummer had a single apiece to account for the other two Delaware Valley hits.

The opener saw Agresti hurl a four-hit shutout, allowing only singles to Leach, Harmer, Andrews and Ferguson in winning her ninth straight decision. The sophomore struck out 13 in the victory and improved her record to 14-3.

Wilkes used the long ball to score all three of their runs in the third inning off of losing pitcher Stephanie Raziano. Nadine Taylor hit a two-run homer and, one out later, Petite blasted a solo shot to give the Lady Colonels a 3-0 advantage.