WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — Wilkes split a doubleheader with its crosstown rival, King’s. The Monarchs won the first game 5-4 on a walk-off walk. The Colonels bounced back to win game two, 4-2.

Wilkes keeps their conference record at .500, improving to 5-5. 

The Colonels grabbed a 3-0 lead in the opener, but slowly saw King’s erase the lead, eventually leading to a three-run seventh inning and a 5-4 Monarch win.

Wilkes jumped out to a lead in the second game, determined to not be swept. Caitlin Brown doubled to left and then scored on a Erin Cabry double to right center. Gracen Staunton then moved Cabry to third with a single and Cabry came into score on an RBI sacrifice bunt by Sarah Gibson.

The score remained the same until the fifth inning. Gab Giordano singled to left-center to lead off the inning and moved all the way to third when Brown was out a first. Cabry then hit a sacrifice fly to left field to bring in Giordano and put Wilkes up 3-0.

Celine Podlesney started for the Colonels in game two and went the first five innings. She allowed just two runs, both unearned in the bottom of the fifth.

Rhiannon Aurand earned the save by tossing the final two innings.

Wilkes tacked on an insurance run in the seventh to make it a 4-2 game. 

Brown went 3-for-4 with an RBI and run scored and Haley Boyd finished 2-for-3. Cabry also contributed at the plate with a 1-for-2 effort and added two RBIs, one run scored and a walk.

The Colonels currently sit in the final playoff spot in the MAC Freedom, tied with FDU-Florham. The two teams close out their regular seasons against each other in what could be a battle for the final spot in the MAC Freedom tournament.

Wilkes returns home for a doubleheader with Marywood on Wednesday before resuming conference play on Saturday with a home series against Delaware Valley.