ALBION, Mich. – Senior Beth Persicano pitched a complete-game shutout to lead the Wilmington College softball team to 1-0 victory and a doubleheader split at Albion College on Sunday. The Britons took the first game 5-0.

Wilmington (7-5) returns to action Wednesday against Defiance College.

In game one, Albion jumped on Wilmington starter Grace Shell with four hits and two runs (one unearned) in the bottom of the first inning. Albion added three in the second.

Those three runs would be the last scored in game as both teams would get exactly one runner in scoring position in the final five innings.

Shell struck out six batters in six innings.

Wilmington had four hits coming from four different individuals – Savannah Hooper, Ali Dixon, Alecia Kemp and Mariyah Burkhardt.

In game two, all nine Quakers were retired the first time through the batting order, but Savannah Hooper reached base on an error in the top of the fourth. After a steal of second and a sacrifice bunt, Allison Pierce delivered a two-out, RBI-double to left field which proved to be the game’s only run.

Persicano pitched around seven hits in the victory. Along with Pierce’s double, Burkhardt was the other Quaker to tally a hit in the game.

On Friday, WC lost its Ohio Athletic Conference opener to Muskingum, 6-1 and 4-3 in nine innings.

In the first game, the Muskies scored three in the top of the sixth to break a 1-1 tie and secure the win.

Wilmington’s lone run game off a pinch-hit, RBI single from Chandler Fields in the bottom of the seventh.

Shell took her first collegiate loss, allowing six earned runs and striking out four in 6.1 innings pitched. Mariyah Burkhardt pitched around two walks to finish the game.

In the second game, Wilmington tied the game in the second at 3-3. Je’Taysia Johns and Micalah Hensley walked then Pierce singled and Kemp delivered a two-RBI single. Kaylee Barber singled with two outs to tie the game.

Muskingum plated the game-winner in the top of the ninth. Persicano took the loss despite allowing just one earned run in nine innings with four strikeouts.

“All three young ladies that pitched did a great job for us on the mound,” WC coach Beth Floyd said. “I was extremely proud of Beth Persicano of throwing all nine innings in a hard-fought game. She came up with big outs when we needed them.”

Wilmington finished with eight hits including two from Pierce and Barber.