SCRANTON, Pa. – The University of Scranton softball team (16-10) split a doubleheader with the Misericordia Cougars (16-10) in non-conference action on Wednesday at Magis Field in Scranton.

The Royals took game one by a score of 10-5 before dropping a 12-4 decision in five innings in game two.

Scranton 10, Misericordia 5

A 10-run fourth proved to be the difference in the game as the Royals climbed out of early 5-0 deficit to notch the victory.

Scranton was able to take advantage of two costly Misericordia errors in the fourth inning and freshman Alexa Bruno (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian) broke a five-all tie with a go-ahead two-run double. Sophomore Soleil Dooner (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East) followed Bruno with a three-run shot to right field to make it a 10-5 game.

Earlier in the frame, an error led to the first two runs before sophomore Samantha Shaw (Pennington, N.J./Hopewell Valley Central) added a run via a sac fly and senior Jessica Stadler (Monmouth Junction, N.J./South Brunswick) along with junior Madison DeStefano (Spring Brook Twp., Pa./North Pocono) delivered RBI singles.

Emma Griffin was dealt the loss for the Cougars as she allowed eight unearned runs on five hits to go along with two walks and two strikeouts over 3 2/3 IP.

Sophomore Carley Noble (Allentown, N.J./Allentown) earned her fourth victory of the season for the Royals after giving up five runs (one earned) on eight hits while walking one and fanning four in six innings of work. Shaw then struck out one in a scoreless seventh in relief.

The Cougars grabbed an early 5-0 lead with three runs in the first and two in the third.

Stadler (3-4, RBI, SB, R) tallied three hits in the contest and junior Kylie Rochford (Tinton Falls, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) added two of her own while scoring a run.

Misericordia 12, Scranton 4 (F/5)

Misericordia took the lead with three runs in the third and broke the game open with five in the fourth en route to the 12-4 victory in the nightcap.

The Royals struck first with an RBI double off the bat of junior Hannah Keane (Randolph, N.J./Randolph) in the bottom of the second inning.

However, the Cougars plated the three in the third including an RBI double from Haley McMenimen who added a three-run double as part of the five-run fourth inning.

In the home half of the fourth, Scranton answered with three runs behind Keane's RBI single and a two-run single from senior Sarah Stepnowski (Monroe Twp., N.J./Monroe) that cut the deficit to 8-4.

Dooner was dealt the loss for the Royals as she gave up eight runs (three earned) on 12 hits while fanning three in 4.0 IP.

Sophia DeFebo recorded the win for the visitors after allowing three runs on three hits to go along with one walk in 1 2/3 IP of relief.

Misericordia added four runs in the top of the fifth for the 12-4 advantage.

Keane led the way offensively for the hosts with two hits and two RBI.

Scranton will head to Wilkes tomorrow afternoon for a Landmark doubleheader with first pitch of game one slated for 4 p.m.