NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. – The Earlham College softball team split a midweek doubleheader at Manchester University on Wednesday afternoon. 

GAME ONE: EARLHAM 6 MANCHESTER 3

Tatum Rickert earned the win in game one, throwing six innings with seven hits and three earned runs allowed with one strikeout. Morgan Cooksey came in for a one-inning save, allowing one hit. 

Alana SMith went 2-2 at the plate with two RBI and one run scored. Ashley Lewis tallied two RBI. Faith Butler went 2-4 with two runs scored. 

Manchester scored a run on a two-out double down the left side to go up 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning. The Quakers responded with four runs on five hits in the top of the second, starting with a leadoff single by Keely Hubbard. With no outs and the bases loaded, Smith hit a two-run single down the left field line to take the lead. Macie Ferguson scored an RBI on a bunt-single, and Lewis hit a sacrifice fly for a 4-1 lead. 

Manchester scored two runs on three hits in the bottom of the second, but the Quaker offense stayed hot in the top of the third, plating two runs on three hits and an error. Drew Tubesing and Lewis both earned walks with the bases loaded for a two-out rally by the visitors. 

Both teams combined for just four total hits after the third inning, and the Quakers held a 6-3 advantage to the end. 

GAME TWO: EARLHAM 0 MANCHESTER 5

Cooksey threw 5.1 innings in game two, with eight hits and five earned runs and two strikeouts. Shelby Messer recorded the final two outs, with one hit and one strikeout. 

Lewis went 2-4 in game two, and Cierra James made a hit in one plate appearance. 

The Spartans scored two runs on a double to center field in the fourth inning. The hosts added another run in the fifth, and scored two runs on two hits in the bottom of the sixth. 

Earlham hosts Bluffton University for a doubleheader on Saturday in Ellie Bewley Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm.