GLENSIDE, Pa., Saturday, March 5, 2011-- Arcadia University Softball opened up the 2011 season at home Saturday afternoon, hosting cross town opponent Penn State University Abington and pocketed a pair of non-league wins. 

The Knights (2-0) wasted no time in the opening tilt, trailing 2-0 after the top of one, using an explosive seven-run bottom of the frame enroute to a 16-3 win after the fifth inning. Senior Virginia Buechel went a perfect 3-3 in game one with four batted in and led off the second inning with her first home run ball of the season. In the nightcap, trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the first, first-year Jess Wood sailed her first collegiate homer over the fence and the Knights never looked back, going on to win 7-2. Senior Kellie Reese  got the game one start and the win after three innings pitched, with one earned run off of four hits, two strikeouts and a pair of walks. Junior Kesley Roberts hurled the game two win allowing one run off two hits while fanning 8 and walking none. First-year Heather Buriak notched the game two save in three innings of work, while first year catcher Leanda Helms was flawless behind the dish in both starts this afternoon. 

Highlighting game one was Arcadia's seven-run bottom of the first that erased a 2-0 deficit and gave the Knights control of the contest. The team batted through the order, and took full advantage of the Lions season opener jitters, scoring seven runs off of just three hits. The Lions committed three errors in the inning and finally were able to retire the Knights with two runners stranded. While the Lions would shore up their defensive play, Arcadia still tacked on four runs in both the second and third innings to take a convincing 12 run lead, 15-3. 

Along with Buechel's perfect game, Helms went 1-2 at the plate with two scored and three batted in. 

The Lions opened up game two with a one-run double to right center but Roberts ended their hopes quickly, fanning the next two batters. Lindsey Henchinski singled to left opening the bottom of the first and moved third when Erin Wojcieszyn reached second on a Lion fielding error. That set up Wood for her first collegiate home run putting the Knights up 3-1. Arcadia tacked on three scores in the bottom of the third on a two-run double to left center from Wojcieszyn and an RBI single from Buechel for the 6-1 advantage.  Already with 6 strikouts, Roberts fanned two more in the top of the fourth to keep the Lions shaking their heads leaving Buriak to work through the fifth, sixth and seventh for the save. 

Wood finished 2-3 at the dish with two runs scored and four batted in and Wojcieszyn went 1-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.

The Knights are off until their spring break travels take them to North Myrtle Beach, S.C., March 14-17 for an eight-game slate before returning home to host Divsion II opponent Chestnut Hill College, March 21 at 3 p.m.