CHAMBERSBURG, Pa--The Hood College softball team engaged in a pair of extra inning affairs with the Wilson College Phoenix, dropping the first game 2-1 in nine innings before rallying to earn a 4-3 triumph in eight frames in the nightcap.

Hood improves to 5-9 overall, 3-1 in the AWCC, while the Phoenix even their record at 5-5 and 1-1 in the conference.

Hood's Jamie Gardner and Wilson's Cheryl Taylor pitched brilliantly in the first game as neither pitcher surrendered a run over the first seven innings. Wilson blew a prime scoring chance in the bottom of the fourth when the Phoenix loaded the bases with nobody out. But Gardner, the reigning AWCC Player of the Week, struck out Marney Niland and got Amanda Harrity and Taylor to fly out to escape unscathed.

The Blazers scored the first run of the ballgame in the top of the eighth when Sara Wastler delivered an RBI-single which scored Jess Krietz. But the Phoenix scored a run of their own in the bottom of the frame on Amber Shelly's RBI-single. Wilson stranded the potential game-winning run at third base after Sarah Engelsman struck out and Niland and Harrity popped up and the two teams went to the ninth.

After Hood was unable to plate a run in the top of the inning, the Phoenix scored the game-winning run after a Blazer miscue.

In the second game, it was the Blazers who prevailed in extra innings as Jamie Bussey knocked in Tamara Maggard in the top of the eighth. Gardner picked up her fifth victory of the season as she struck out Englesman and retired Shelly and Niland on ground outs.

Christine Harvey was 2-for-4 in the game with two RBI while Gardner helped her own cause with a pair of basehits in the victory.

The Blazers return to action Friday hosting Messiah College for a doubleheader at 2 p.m. at the Hood College Softball Complex.