CARLISLE, Pa. - The Dickinson softball team returned to non-conference action on Thursday afternoon with a doubleheader against the visiting Alvernia University Golden Wolves at Dickinson Park. The Red and White were able to pick up a 2-1 win in game one, before having their late rally in game two fall just short in a 7-6 setback.

Game One - DEVILS 2, Alvernia 1

Pitching Decision

W - Riley Kuehn (5-7) | L - Emma Kropkowski (5-10) | S - Lindsay Kucker (1)

Inside the Game

After an uneventful first both sides had chances to find the scoreboard in the second as the first two batters reached for Alvernia, but Kuehn settled down to get a pop-up and two strikeouts to allow nothing. In the home-half Paige Hahn and Hannah Brenner walked while Brooke Espenshade picked up a single to load the bags with one out. However, Kropkowski forced Jen Klepfer to popout and Devon Kueny grounded out to retire the side.

Dickinson would take the lead the following inning as Hannah Seburn and Kucker each singled to put two on with one gone for Hahn. She stepped into the box and ripped a single to center scoring Seburn for the 1-0 lead. The Red and White unfortunately could not add on with being caught trying to swipe second and Espenshade popping up to the catcher.

Kuehn gave up a pair of knocks her next time in the field but got a popout and another strikeout to prevent any damage. Zoe Kleeblatt began the bottom-half with a double to deep center, before being driven in two batters later thanks to a sac fly from Klepfer making it 2-0 through four. 

Alvernia threatened again with a one-out triple in the fifth, before a foul out to Espenshade at catcher and a groundout to Hahn held the score at 2-0. The Golden Wolves would eventually get on the board in the seventh with a walk and a single driving in one with just one out. That was the end of the day for Kuehn as Kucker replaced her in the circle. She walked her first hitter to put two runners on, but got a popout to short and a strikeout to wrap up the game. 

Game Two - Alvernia 7, DEVILS 6

Pitching Decision

W - Maggie Loomis (8-2) | L - Emma Varella (0-2) | S - Emily Sano (1)

Inside the Game

Varella ran into trouble right off the bat as an error and a walk led to a two-run triple for Tara Tumasz. The next batter was Devan Hudson who was hit by a pitch, before Kerstin Koenig smacked a two-bagger to left-center driving in two more for a 4-0 lead without Dickinson even having a chance. Loomis put together a beautiful shutdown inning with two groundouts and a pop-up. 

Alvernia added another in the second with a leadoff infield single for Brooke Weister scoring one batter later as she stole second and third, prior to racing home when ball four from Kucker eluded catcher Emma Glosson. Back-to-back singles then loaded the bases with no outs. Fortunately, Kucker settled in and retired the ensuing three hitters to keep the margin at 5-0. It went to 6-0 during the third as Sara Campbell drew a walk then swiped second. A passed ball during Weister's at-bat moved her to third. Kucker would get her to swing through strike three, however, Glosson had to throw her out at first after dropping the strike allowing the runner to score. The Wolves pushed the advantage to 7-0 in the fourth when Jaclyn Barbera went deep over the left-field fence. 

The Red Devils began their push during the fifth when they filled the bags with a single from Kleeblatt and walks to Avery Badger and Glosson. Laia Gwathmey grounded out to short scoring Kleeblatt and leaving two on for Kueny. However, she would groundout, and pinch-hitter Espenshade flew out to center retiring the side.

The game remained 7-1 until the last call time came for the Devils. Kleeblatt began things with a flyout, before Glosson walked and Brenner singled leading to an RBI knock for Gwathmey. The train kept moving with run-scoring at-bats for Kueny and Celia Vinacco cutting it to 7-4 with two outs. Sano took over in the circle for Loomis trying to nail down the save, but watched Kucker reach on an error to score one and Hahn smoke an RBI single to right making it 7-6 for Kleeblatt with the tying run at third. However, she hit a fly ball to medium right-field that was caught to end the rally and the game.

On Deck

Dickinson (9-16) continues non-conference action when they make the short drive over to Mechanicsburg on Saturday for a doubleheader against Messiah University beginning at 12 p.m.