GLENSIDE – Two pitchers duels supported by timely hits keyed a doubleheader sweep for the Arcadia University softball team as it defeated Messiah University in non-conference action by 2-1 and 1-0 finals, respectively, at Blankley Field on Tuesday evening.
 
The Knights improved to 12-3 with the pair of victories.
 
Messiah opened the scoring in game one with an unearned run in the top of the second.
 
Zoey Ritter tied the score with an RBI double in the bottom of the second that scored Morgan Tripodi, who led off the frame with a single and moved to second on Effie Jamanis' sacrifice bunt before scoring.
 
Neither team had a runner reach third base the rest of the way until the bottom of the seventh when Madi Costigan launched a walk-off double to the gap in right-center, bringing home Ritter after she reached on a bunt single to lead off the inning and moved up on a sacrifice bunt from Xanthe Jamanis.
 
Brenna Dolan improved to 5-1 with the win, allowing a single unearned run over seven innings, surrendering two hits with one walk and four strikeouts.
 
Ritter and Nathalia Diianni led Arcadia at the plate with two hits each.
 
The Falcons started game two off with a lead-off triple, but Juliana Presto came back with three straight strikeouts to strand the runner and end the inning.
 
E. Jamanis led off the bottom of the fifth with a double to left, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Tripodi, and came in to score on a single to right from Allison LaRochelle.
 
That single run was all the Knights would need as Presto was in control the entire game, striking out a career-high 15 batters in the complete-game shutout, allowing two hits and two walks. This was Presto's fifth start in her last six with double-digit strikeouts.
 
Serena Goodridge and Megan Klose both finished game two 2-for-3 at the plate.
 
Arcadia returns to the field on Thursday when it travels to Stockton University for a 3:00 p.m. non-conference doubleheader.