game one     game two 

The Wilkes University baseball team moved two steps closer to securing the No. 1 seed in the Freedom Conference post season tournament by sweeping FDU-Florham, winning the first game 6-5, before taking a 16-5 victory in the second.

The Colonels never trailed in either game, but the Devils nearly came back from a 6-0 deficit after scoring two runs in the fifth followed by three in the sixth in the first game.

Wilkes used 13 hits, all of which were singles, and timely defense to win its third one-run game of the season. The Devils on the other hand, committed five errors that led to two unearned runs.

All but one starter tallied a hit in the first game for Wilkes, while five others picked up two. Shortstop Mike McAndrew (Avoca, Pa./Pittston Area) went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and made a diving catch in the top of the ninth to halt any chance of a rally by the Devils.

Senior Geoff Miller (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville) continued his hot streak with an RBI single to center in the bottom of the first to drive in McAndrew to give the Colonels the lead for good. Miller finished with two RBI in the game and has now driven in 10 runs in the past three games.

Wilkes would add to its lead in the third after Tom Buckler (Plains, Pa./Coughlin), who extended his hitting streak to eight games, singled in Randy Dengler (Ashland, Pa./Tri-Valley ), while John Florance (Binghamton, N.Y./Chenango Forks) hit a sacrifice fly to left plating Miller to give the Colonels a 3-0 advantage.

The fourth inning saw the Colonels bang out four more hits, while FDU committed two errors that eventually led to three more runs to give them a 6-0 edge. The six-run cushion would enough for freshman starter Ryan Fetterman (Endicott, NY/Maine Endwell ), who tossed 7.1 innings while giving up five runs off eight hits and striking out four. He improved to 5-0 on the year, while fellow freshman Sean Flecknoe (Wilkes-Barre, PA/G.A.R.) came in relief in the top of the ninth to close to door on the Devils for his fifth save of the year.

FDU-Florham cut into the Colonel lead in the fifth with a pair of runs after Doug Bookholt drove in Matt Joiner and Dan Pregno doubled in Bookholt. The rally would continue in the sixth inning as a three-run homer by Joiner brought FDU-Florham within one. He would finish with two hits, two runs scored and three RBI in the game.

Unlike the first game, Wilkes left little doubt in the second game after scoring seven runs in the second inning. The Colonels would score at least one run in all but two innings while picking up 20 hits including eight for extra bases.

Freshman Matt Ruch (Dallas, Pa./Holy Redeemer ) extended his hitting streak to 20 games after going 3-for-5 with four runs batted in. He was a double away from hitting for the cycle as he hit a two-run homer in the fifth along with a two-run triple in the sixth.

McAndrew was perfect in the second game after going 4-for-4 with four runs scored and an RBI. Andrew Garofoli (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) and Miller both had three hits in the game, while Dengler went 2-for-5 with four RBI thanks to a two-run homer in the fifth.

Sophomore Al Clocker (Swoyersville/Wyoming Valley West) remained perfect on the year improving to 4-0 after throwing seven innings where he gave up five runs off 10 hits. Mark Siebel (Rumson, NJ/Rumson Fair Haven) came in relief to throw the final two innings where he gave up just one hit.

The Colonels improved to 25-6 overall and 10-2 in Freedom Conference play. They will hit the road on Tuesday when they head to Reading to take on Alvernia at 3:30 p.m.