CARLISLE, Pa. - The Dickinson softball team put together a six-run rally in the fifth inning of game one en route to a 9-8 extra inning win to extend their win streak to five. Unfortunately, in the back-half of the non-conference twinbill against the visiting Alvernia University the offense was unable to get on track as the Red and White fell 4-1 to pickup a split at Dickinson Park.

Game One - DEVILS 9, Golden Wolves 8 (F/9)
Time of Game - 2:05
Pitching Decision 
W - Riley Kuehn (7-2) | L - Natalie Berwick (1-2)

Inside the Game
Dickinson was off and running in the bottom of the first as singles by Jane Lloyd and Jessie Sandusky led to DC taking a 1-0 lead just two batters in against Maggie Loomis. After that the starters Abby Kohan for the Devils and Loomis for the visitors settled in allowing just one more combined hit over the next two frames to send the game to the fourth at 1-0. In the top-half of that inning Kohan would run into some issues as a single and triple led to the tying run coming across. A knock by Brooke Weister made it 2-1, before a walk to Devan Hudson allowed for a two-run single for pinch-hitter Allison Kirschner. Three consecutive singles for the guests plated the fifth of the inning to give Alvernia a 5-1 advantage going to the fifth. The Golden Wolves pushed it out to 7-1 when an error and walk set the stage for a two-run knock to left by Hudson. That resulted in Riley Kuehn entering the game and striking out the first batter she faced to end the rally. 

The bottom of the fifth saw the Red and White storm back in a big way as a walk to Jen Klepfer and fielder's choice by Lloyd put two on with two gone. After both runners swiped a bag Sandusky smacked a two-run single to cut it down to 7-3. The next batter was Eden Blanker who provided an RBI two-bagger out to right-center. An error by the Wolves shortstop put two on for Zoe Kleeblatt. She stepped into the box and deposited a long drive over the centerfielder's head that pounded up against the fence allowing the two runners to score, but with Kleeblatt "hot-footing" it out of the box she raced home and scored to tie the game at 7-7. Berwick then entered the game and got Emma Glosson to to groundout to stop the rally.

After the remaining regulation innings went by without either side mounting any threat the game entered the eighth locked at 7-7. With Paige Paciolla placed at second a sacrifice bunt and sac fly to center made it 8-7. However, the Devils had the answer as a sac bunt moved the free runner Kohan to third, before Glosson ripped one through the left to tie the game forcing a ninth. Three straight groundouts wrapped up the top-half of the frame giving DC the chance to walk it off. Laila Gwathmey was placed on second, went to third on a wild pitch leading to the game-winning single to left off the stick of Lloyd.

Game Two - Golden Wolves 4, DEVILS 1
Time of Game - 1:55
Pitching Decision
W - Ashlyn Hillanbrand (4-3) | L - Kaylie Renner (0-2)

Inside the Game
A scoreless first gave way to the second where singles by Weister and Janine Crawford led to the visitors taking a 1-0 advantage through two. Dickinson was able to scratch across the tying run during the bottom of third when walks to Glosson and Gwathmey along with a single by Brooke Espenshade set the stage for an RBI single to left for Devon Kueny to level the score at 1-1 with three frames in the books.

Beth Belanger took over in the circle for the fourth and found herself in a dicey situation as a single, error and walk loaded the bags with two away for Kalli Bunnell. Belanger made a brilliant pitch to get the batter looking for the final out allowing for no damage. However, two singles in the top of the fifth had runners on the corners with no one out for Jaclyn Barbera. During her at-bat a double steal between the two players led to AU taking a 2-1 edge through five. Then in the sixth, the visitors added two more runs against Renner who had returned to the circle for the Red and White. A walk and single brought Alexia Fitzgerald to the dish and she would reach safely on a DC miscue allowing one to score. After a free pass to Loomis, Lindsay Kucker was brought in to pitch and got a high chopper off the bat of Barbera to deflect off the top of her glove allowing the fourth run of the game to score. She then got Kirschner to popout to second for the final out. Unfortunately, for Dickinson they could only muster one base runner the rest of the game allowing the Golden Wolves to secure the split.

The On-Deck Circle
Dickinson (16-10) gets back to Centennial Conference play on Saturday afternoon when they head to Haverford College for a doubleheader beginning at 1pm.  Read Full Article