Softball

Wilkes University 5, Delaware Valley College 0 (Game 1)
Wilkes University 3, Delaware Valley College 0 (Game 2)

EDWARDSVILLE (PA) - Laurie Agresti and Samantha Evanich limited visiting Delaware Valley College to a combined seven hits in two games to help Wilkes University post a pair of shutout wins over the Aggies in a key Freedom Conference softball doubleheader on Thursday afternoon at Ralston Field.

Wilkes, behind the pitching of Agresti, posted a 5-0 victory in game one. Evanich took the mound for game two and led the Lady Colonels to a 3-0 win. The sweep improved Wilkes to 20-10 overall and clinched a conference playoff berth. The Lady Colonels are 9-3 in the conference and will host the conference tournament next Friday and Saturday.

Delaware Valley, which can still claim their first playoff berth in 20 years if Drew University loses one of its final four conference games (doubleheader tonight at Scranton and a doubleheader at home against Wilkes on Saturday), fell to 16-12 overall and 8-6 in the conference.

Agresti was dominant in the opener, allowing only four singles to improve to 13-2 and lower her conference-leading earned run average to 0.78. The senior also struck out 15 hitters to increase her career total to 970 strikeouts as she attempts to become just the fifth pitcher in Division III history to reach the 1,000 strikeout plateau. Kirstyn Ruhling (6-5) took the loss for Delaware Valley after surrendering nine hits and four earned runs in six innings of work.

Wilkes scored the only run it would need in the second inning on an RBI single by Julie Henry. The Lady Colonels tacked on a single run in the fifth to extend their lead and put the game out of reach with three more in the sixth inning. Katie Orr had a single to left field that scored two and a third score on a misplay in the outfield.

Lacy Miles, Nancy Kauffman, Robyn Jackson and Maureen Ferguson had the hits for the Aggies.

Evanich was equally as impressive in game two as she allowed only three singles and struck out six to improve to 7-6 in the circle. Jennifer Bummer fell to 7-5 for Delaware Valley. She gave up six hits and struck out five in six innings.

The Lady Colonels did all of their damage in the fourth inning. With two outs and nobody on, Melisa Bracone and Erin Plank drew consecutive bases on balls. Sarah Miller then stepped to the plate and launched a three-run homer to left-center field to give Wilkes a 3-0 lead they would never relinquish. Delaware Valley got a single apiece from Kelly Andrews, Kauffman and Bummer.