WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – The Arcadia University softball team split its double-header at Wilkes University on Tuesday night. The Knights captured the opener, 8-4, with two-run homers from Megan Sooy and Alexis Burge, but dropped the finale, 5-3.
 
Alex DeStefano, Madi Costigan, Burge and Sooy were a combined 14-for-25 with two home runs and 10 RBI at the top of the Knights lineup. Arcadia also received excellent pitching from Juliana Presto, who combined for 9.2 innings with no earned runs and 14 strikeouts on the night.
 
ARCADIA 8, WILKES 4
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Knights struck first in the top of the first inning. Following a one-out single to right field from Burge, Sooy sent a two-run homer to right field for the game's first runs. The Colonels then answered in the bottom of the inning with two runs of their own, 2-2.
 
- Arcadia exploded for four runs in the second inning. With two runners in scoring position, DeStefano put the Knights ahead with a two-out double down the left field line. Burge then homered to right field in the following at bat to take a four-run lead. Wilkes would score two more runs in the bottom of the frame to cut its deficit in half, 6-4.
 
- Presto entered the game in the fourth inning for her fifth appearance of the season in relief. The reigning MAC Freedom Pitcher of the Week walked the first batter, but struck out the next two Colonels swinging, before inducing a pop out to end the inning. Presto was magnificent the rest of the way – striking out a season-best eight batters and allowing just one hit in 4.0 innings of work.
 
- The Knights added two insurance runs in the sixth inning with RBI singles from Madi Costigan and Sooy, 8-4.
 
KNIGHT LEADERS AT THE PLATE
- Sooy: 3-3, 3 RBI, HR, BB
- Burge: 2-4, 2 RBI, HR
- Costigan: 3-4, RBI, R
- DeStefano: 2-3, 2 RBI, R

KNIGHT LEADERS IN THE CIRCLE
-Schwind: W (2-0), 3 IP, 4 ER, 3 K
-Presto: SV (2), 4 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 8 K
 
ARCADIA 3, WILKES 5
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Wilkes jumped out to a commanding four-run lead in the opening frame, 4-0. The Knights would eventually begin to chip away with three runs in the third inning. DeStefano and Burge combined for two runs with back-to-back RBI singles, while Sooy drove home one more with a single, 4-3.
 
- The Colonels added one run in the bottom of the third, 5-3. Presto was able to limit the damage and escape a bases-loaded threat with an inning ending strikeout.
 
- The Knights threatened with a runner on second base and one out in the fifth inning, but couldn't get the run home. Arcadia went down in order in the sixth and seventh innings to end the game.
 
KNIGHT LEADERS AT THE PLATE
- Sooy: 2-3, RBI
- Burge 1-3, RBI

KNIGHT LEADERS IN THE CIRCLE
- Presto: 5.1 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 6 K
 
UP NEXT
The Knights (5-1) return to action with a double-header at Stevenson University on Saturday.