EDWARDSVILLE, Pa. – Keystone softball fell in a narrow 2-1 affair before being defeated 18-7 in five innings in double-header non-conference action Wednesday afternoon at Wilkes University.

Courtney Cienki (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) again got the start in the pitching circle for game No. 1 and went the distance with four strikeouts while giving up just three hits and one earned run with four walks, three hit-batsmen and two wild pitches. The sophomore pitcher also made an appearance in the nightcap, coming in for relief of Amber Stansfield (Levittown, Pa./Conwell-Egan Catholic).

First baseman Elle Olivero (Levittown, Pa./Harry S. Truman) went a combined 3 for 6 on the afternoon with two RBIs to lead the Giants in hitting in additiont to recording seven defensive putouts.

Game 1: Keystone 1, Wilkes 2

After Keystone stranded a runner in the opening frame of the game, Wilkes hopped on the scoreboard first with Nicole Howell's two-out RBI-ground-single through the right side of the field to plate a runner from third base.

In the top of the second inning, the Giants loaded the bases with no outs but were unable to cash in as they went down in order.

Wilkes threatened again in the bottom of the third after Cienki give up free bases on back-to-back batters with two outs, but the sophomore came through again with her second inning-ending strikeout.

The Giants tied the game in the top of the sixth after Brooke Staple (Carbondale, Pa./Carbondale Area) reached base on an error with one out, advanced to second off Paige Mokychic's (Beaumont, Pa./Tunkhannock Area) sacrifice bunt and then came around third on a passed ball. Mara Brooks (Manassas, Va./Brentsville) slapped a hard liner off the first baseman's glove and reached safely for an RBI that sent Staple home.

But the Colonels came right back in the bottom half of the inning with the go-ahead run on Bella Peter's full-count single up the middle to score a runner from third base.

In Keystone's last chance, the Giants rallied with two outs to load the bases, but Staple's deep fly out to center field ended the threat and the game.

Game 2: Keystone 7, Wilkes 18

Keystone got on the board first with two runs in the opening frame on a bases-loaded walk and a passed ball, but the Colonels bounced back with eight hits in the bottom of the first inning — highlighted by Nicole O'Rourke's full-count grand slam to left field to make it a 9-2 ballgame.

The Giants battled back to stay within striking distance at a five-run deficit in the third inning and an inning later down 13-7, but Wilkes once again rebounded and plated five more runs for the 10-run mercy-rule win after five innings.

Lexy Johnson (Newark, Del./Delaware Military Academy) went 2 for 3 with a run scored. The senior third baseman had a combined six defensive putouts and two assists on the afternoon and is also now one hit away from reaching the 100 career hits milestone.

Mokychic was walked twice and hit by pitch once with one RBI and one run scored.

Also driving in runs were Brooks and Kabrina Birmingham (Burlington, N.J./Burlington City).

What's Next

Keystone fell even to 6-6 on the year and will start Colonial States Athletic Conference play Saturday with a doubleheader against Cairn (2-7 overall) starting 1 p.m. at Edmunds Field.

Wilkes improved to 6-4 overall (0-2 MAC Freedom) and will host Alfred University Friday for double-header action.