Box Score

The Wilkes University baseball team traveled to Center Valley, Pa. to take on DeSales on Friday, competing in its first conference action of the season. After nine innings, the Colonels didn't have the offense to keep up with the Bulldogs, falling 8-3.

Wilkes was able to get its leadoff batter on in the first in the form of a Mike McAndrew (Avoca, Pa./Pittston Area) single, but two strikeouts by Bulldog pitching kept the Colonels at bay. In the bottom of the frame, DeSales didn't waste any time putting up runs, as a bases loaded double scored three runs, giving the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead after one.

In the second inning DeSales was able to tack on two more runs, while Wilkes struggled at the plate. Over the next three innings the pitching and defense of each team kept the bats at bay, and after five innings played, the Bulldogs still held a comfortable 5-0 lead. 

In the sixth the Colonels once again had their leadoff man on in the form of a McAndrew double, but the next three batters couldn't drive him in. In the bottom of the inning, DeSales had a runner in scoring position with one out, and it took advantage, hitting a single and knocking in its sixth run of the game. The Bulldogs tacked on another run in the inning, pushing their lead to seven after six innings played.

In the seventh Wilkes finally got a runner across home plate, as Justin Fortin (Stroudsburg/Stroudsburg) and Al Clocker (Swoyersville/Wyoming Valley West) each hit singles, and with two outs Carmen Lopresto (Pittston, PA/Pittston Area) hit a double to center field, scoring both runners and making the score 7-2. In the bottom of the inning, relief pitcher Brandon Carling (Old Forge, PA/Old Forge Area) struck out two batters, keeping the Bulldogs at seven runs and giving the Colonels a chance to narrow the deficit.

The top of the eighth began with Matt Ruch (Dallas, Pa./Holy Redeemer ) singling through the left side for an early base runner. The Colonels worked their way into loading the bases, and Scott Skammer (Dallas, PA/Dallas) was hit by a pitch, adding one more run and making the score 7-3. DeSales answered though, tripling in another run in the bottom of the eighth.

Wilkes had its final shot in the top of the ninth, and started off the inning with a Lopresto walk. Unfortunately, the next three batters all made outs, as DeSales sealed the victory, 8-3.

Wilkes had three players with two hits a piece in Clocker, McAndrew and Lopresto, with Lopresto knocking in two RBI's. Getting the loss for the Colonels was Tom Buckler (Plains, Pa./Coughlin), who is now 0-2 on the season. The Colonels had nine hits in the game, while the Bulldogs punched out 10 hits on the afternoon.

The Colonels will have a chance for redemption when they host DeSales on Saturday, March 20. That double-header will begin at noon at Artillery Park.