game one     game two

BOYERTOWN – The Wilkes University baseball team made an early exit in the Freedom Conference Baseball Tournament as they fell to Alvernia 11-0 before dropping a 10-2 decision to Manhattanville in the elimination game.

The Colonels, who came into the event with a team batting average of .338 and the highest scoring team in the league, were only able to come up with a combined eight hits in the two games. The day didn't start well for Wilkes as Alvernia pitcher Chuck Nicholas tossed a complete-game no-hitter where he faced a total of 27 batters. The Colonels had just three base runners in the game that included two hit batsmen and a walk.

Alvernia blew the game open after breaking a scoreless tie with seven runs in the fifth inning where it banged out five hits including a three-run double and a two-run homer by Chris Stoudt. The Crusaders tacked on three more runs in the top of the ninth to advance in the tournament.

In the elimination game, Wilkes got its first base hit of the tournament from catcher Randy Dengler (Ashland, Pa./Tri-Valley ) and it would score their first run of the tournament when John Florance (Binghamton, N.Y./Chenango Forks) reached on a fielding error allowing Andrew Garofoli (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) to score from third. It would be the only run they would score until Ben Caiola (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) hit an RBI single down the right field line in the eighth to score Geoff Miller (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville), who doubled to right field. By that time Manhattanville held a 10-1 lead.

The Valiants, who entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed, banged out 16 hits including five for extra bases. The win marks the third time Manhattanville has beaten Wilkes this season.

Wilkes will now wait to see if they are invited to play in the ECAC Playoffs which will begin in two weeks.