SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Mia Butka's go-ahead double in the top of the tenth inning helped the Wilkes University softball team hold off a Susquehanna comeback and take the opening game of the Landmark Conference Tournament First Round 12-9.

The Colonels opened the game with three straight singles, the last of which, off the bat of Mia Butka allowed Allyson Stafursky to score. Another single from Olivia Dougher drove home Butka and scored herself on a passed ball to put Wilkes ahead 3-0 early.

In the third with the bases loaded, the River Hawks walked Victoria Butler and Hana Cross in consecutive at-bats to extend the Colonel's lead to 5-0. The navy and gold took their largest lead of the game in the top of the fourth, adding three more to go ahead 8-0. Talia Piragas got the scoring started with a single to left that plated Butka and Dougher, and was brought home as Butler grounded out to shortstop.

The River Hawks got back into the game in the bottom of the fourth, cutting the lead in half with four straight bases-loaded walks to make it an 8-4 game.  Wilkes got one back in the top of the fifth on an RBI single from Samantha Petersen, but the hosts would claw their way back with five unanswered runs in the fifth and sixth innings to tie the game at nine. Both teams then left runners on base in the seventh to force extra innings.

Both defenses held strong into the tenth inning, where a single from Butler opened the inning, and a double from Stafursky put two runners in scoring position. With only one out remaining, Butka ripped a ball to left center field to clear the bases and put Wilkes back on top 11-9. In the next at-bat, Petersen then singled up the middle to extend the lead 12-9. The Colonel's defense sealed the deal in the bottom of the frame to take the victory.

Petersen led the team, going 4-for-7 at the plate, one of seven Colonels with multi-hit games totaling 21 hits. Butka led the team with three RBIs, followed by Piragas, Butler, and Petersen with two each. Butka also got the win in the circle, moving to 6-4 on the year after going 7.2 innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on eight hits with one strikeout.

Brianna Jones (7-3) was given the loss, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on 17 hits with six strikeouts. At the plate, Isabella Sulesky led the team with three hits and two RBIs.

Wilkes now moves to Friday as the Landmark Tournament continues, where the Colonels face top-seed Moravian University on Friday, May 8th at 1:00 p.m.