game one   game two

DOYLESTOWN – The Freedom Conference race for the postseason tournament became more interesting as Delaware Valley swept a pair of games from Wilkes University, winning the first game 7-4 before taking an 18-6 victory in the second.

The Colonels have already punched their ticket to Boyertown, the sight of the Freedom Conference Championship, but needed just one win to secure a No. 1 seed in the event. With the two losses, Wilkes falls to 26-9 overall and 11-5 in league play. FDU-Florham, Manhattanville and Wilkes each have five conference losses to share the top spot, but Manhattanville and FDU still have games remaining.

In the first game, Wilkes took an early lead with a run in the top of the second on an RBI single by Shane Keister (Middleburg, Pa./Midd-West) to score Joel Watson (Honesdale, PA/Honesdale), who led off the inning with a walk. The Aggies took a 2-1 lead in the third with a pair of runs off back-to-back triples before the Colonels tied the game when John Florance (Binghamton, N.Y./Chenango Forks) hit a fielder's choice to drive in Geoff Miller (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville).

Delaware Valley took the lead for good the next inning with a run before scoring two more in the sixth. Wilkes came within one in the top of the eight after scoring two runs off one hit – an Andy Garofoli (Altoona, PA/Bishop Guilfoyle) triple to right center that scored Mike McAndrew (Avoca, Pa./Pittston Area). Watson would later ground out to shortstop to plate Garofoli. The Aggies ended the threat with two runs in the bottom of the inning to hand Ryan Fetterman (Endicott, NY/Maine Endwell ) his first loss of the season. The freshman tossed seven innings where he gave up five runs, three earned, off 10 hits while striking out two.

The second game saw the Aggies score early and often, setting the tone with six runs in the bottom of the first inning which all but put away the Colonels. They would go on to score two-or-more runs in the next four innings to hand Wilkes its third-straight loss.

Delaware Valley got to ace Tom Buckler (Plains, Pa./Coughlin) early, scoring eight runs, four of which were earned, off eight hits in two innings. The Colonels did get a two-run homer in the third inning from Garofoli, his eighth of the season which is tied for the team lead.

Delaware Valley made things worse for the Colonels in the third when leadoff hitter Dan Hrubos hit a grand slam to center field, giving the Aggies a 12-4 lead. He would finish the day with three hits, four runs scored and four RBI.

The double header sweep concludes conference play for Wilkes, but the Colonels will travel to face Marywood on Monday before hosting Scranton in the regular season finale on Tuesday.