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For the second time in less than a week, the Wilkes University baseball team defeated Misericordia, this time taking a 6-4 victory, surviving a late comeback by the Cougars. The Colonels have now won 11 straight and improved to 14-4 overall and 2-0 in Freedom Conference play.

Leading 6-0 after seven innings, Misericordia erupted for four runs in the eighth, but freshman Sean Flecknoe (Wilkes-Barre, PA/G.A.R.) came in relief giving up just one hit in 1.2 innings pitched for his second save of the season. Flecknoe has yet to give up a run, earned or unearned, in five appearances.

Wilkes took advantage of sloppy defense by the Cougars, who committed three errors that resulted in five unearned runs. Starter Steve Peet was effective, giving up just one earned run in five innings pitched, but after 96 pitches and six total runs, Peet was done for the day and suffered his first loss of the season.

On the flip side, Wilkes starter Ryan Fetterman (Endicott, NY/Maine Endwell ) pitched seven strong innings, giving up three runs, two earned, and six hits while striking out two to improve to 3-1 on the year. Like the Colonels, Misericordia was able to capitalize on fielding miscues, plating two runs off errors.

Wilkes left fielder John Florance (Binghamton, N.Y./Chenango Forks) was the bulk of the offense, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three runs batted in. He would give the Colonels a 5-0 advantage with a three-run blast to left for his second-straight hit. He also led off the fourth inning with a double, hitting it into the trees that are in play in deep center field.

The Colonels broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth with two unearned runs in the frame. Florance would score after Geoff Miller (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville) reached on an error by the pitcher. Miller's hard-hit ball was fielded cleanly by Peet, but his throw to first sailed high allowing Florance the extra base. Shane Keister (Middleburg, Pa./Midd-West) would ground out, moving Miller to third and would later score on a throwing error by the catcher on an attempted pickoff at third.

In the bottom of the fifth, Dengler reached on a two-out walk before Al Clocker (Swoyersville/Wyoming Valley West) got on base thanks to an infield error moving Dengler to second. Florance's homer was the first of the season and proved to be enough for the Wilkes pitching staff.

Andrew Garofoli (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle), who has now hit safely in seven-straight games, picked up his only hit of the day, but made it count as his single down the left line drove in Mike McAndrew (Avoca, Pa./Pittston Area), who reached on a single to right field to give the Colonels a 6-0 advantage.

Fetterman, who cruised through the first seven innings, ran into trouble in the eighth when he walked the leadoff batter before giving up a double. The Cougars broke up the shutout when Mike D'Amara reached on an error, allowing Cody Hack to score.

Mike Brennan (New Ringgold, Pa./Marian Catholic) would come in relief, but a sacrifice fly and an RBI triple cut the lead to 6-2. The Colonels would survive two more runs by the Cougars to secure the win, despite being outhit 8-7.

There will be no rest for Wilkes as it heads to St. Davids tomorrow to take on Easter for a Freedom Conference doubleheader.