Game One Box     Game Two Box

ST. MARY'S CITY, Md. – The Wilkes University baseball team opened the 2009 season with a split against St. Mary's (Md.). The Colonels won the opener 2-1 but fell in the nightcap, 3-0. 

 

In the first game, Wilkes starter Tom Buckler (Plains, Pa./Coughlin) tossed four scoreless innings, giving up just one hit while striking out two to pick up the victory for the Colonels. Ryan Fetterman (Endicott, NY/Maine Endwell ) picked up the save after pitching the final three innings of the contest, surrendering one run off two hits. 

 

The Colonels threatened in the second inning, picking up a two of their six hits on the game in the frame. Andrew Garofoli (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) started the inning with a single, but would be out at second on a fielder's choice by Trevin Jaggars (Honesdale, Pa./Honesdale). Al Clocker (Swoyersville/Wyoming Valley West), who went 2-for-3 on the game, picked up the second single of the inning, but a fly out to right field with two runners on ended the threat. 

 

Wilkes would get on the board in the top of the third, taking advantage of miscues by the Seahawks. With one out in the inning, Mike McAndrew (Avoca, Pa./Pittston Area) was hit by a pitch and would eventually reach second when Geoff Miller (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville) walked. An error by St. Mary's pitcher Jon Gill would allow McAndrew to score from second, while Miller advanced to third. 

 

Despite not picking up a hit in the fourth, St. Mary's threatened, but Buckler got Ian Simpson-Shelton to fly out to right field with the bases loaded to end the inning. The Colonels were able to recover from an error that allowed leadoff hitter Matt Baden to reach third. 

 

The Colonels tacked on a much-needed insurance run in the top of the seventh when Clocker, Matt Ruch (Dallas, Pa./Holy Redeemer ) and Eric Wetzel (New Berlin, N.J./Mifflinburg) all reach on consecutive singles. Clocker would eventually score on a wild pitch to seal the win. 

 

St. Mary's made it interesting when Baden singled in Brad Shepherd, who led off the inning with a walk. Fetterman got Mark Dattilio to fly out to center to end the game. 

 

In the second game, the Colonels committed two errors that led to two unearned runs to fall to 1-1 on the year. Seahawk starter Mikel Iraola went the distance, giving up two hits while striking out nine and walking two.  

 

Tom Plessl (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland ) picked up his first single of the season while Ruch tripled in the fifth – the Colonels first hit of the game. Plessl, a pinch hitter, would pick up the second hit in the top of the seventh. 

 

The two teams will play the third and final game tomorrow at noon.