GLENSIDE (Pa.) – The Delaware Valley University softball team suffered a pair of losses at Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom front-runner Arcadia University in a league tilt on Friday afternoon. The Knights took game one, 4-1, and won the nightcap, 16-0.

Arcadia improved to 22-5 overall and 9-1 in MAC Freedom play to maintain its spot atop the conference, while the Aggies dropped to 7-16 and 2-8.

DelVal scored the first run of the day thanks to three hits in the top of the first. Sierra Ripka led off the game with a single, Carly Mahal followed suit, and Caitlyn Pollock moved the runners into scoring position. Two batters later, Emily Merrigan hit a single to right field to plate Ripka and make it 1-0.

First-year Katherine Beckett got the start in the circle and retired the Knights in order in the bottom of the first.

The Aggies got their first two runners aboard again to start the second, but three straight fly outs ended the threat.

Beckett was in a jam in the bottom of the second with the bases loaded and one out, but was able to get a ground out and a fly out to center field that was tracked by Ripka to keep it a 1-0 game after two.

Arcadia broke through in the bottom of the third with four runs on three hits and one error to take the lead for good. Serena Goodridge highlighted the frame with a two-run double to left center and a run scored after a sacrifice fly by Effie Jamanis. Defensively, the Knights held DelVal was held to just one hit the rest of the game to secure the victory.

Merrigan, Bailey Smith, and Gabrielle Landis each had two hits to lead the Aggies with Merrigan adding a walk and the lone RBI. DelVal had eight hits in the game. Beckett went three innings and allowed three earned runs before Olivia Monismith came on in relief and allowed just three hits over three frames.

Arcadia's Brenna Dolan earned the win in the circle with eight hits allowed and four strikeouts. The Knights matched the Aggies eight hits with Goodridge, Megan Klose, and Allison LaRochelle each recording two.

In game two, Arcadia jumped on the visitors with four runs on five hits in the first inning. It tacked on five more runs on five hits in the second, and five more on four hits in the third, to open up a 14-0 lead.

DelVal was held to two hits in the second game, off the bats of Ripka and Monismith, while the Knights connected for 19 base knocks.

Megan Sooy led all players with a 3-for-3 effort including three RBI and two runs scored while Juliana Presto earned the win in the circle with two hits allowed over four innings and eight strikeouts.

The Aggies will look to bounce-back in a home doubleheader with Drew on Tuesday, April 19 beginning at 3 p.m.