Box Score
The Wilkes University baseball team had its second day of action in Myrtle Beach on Saturday, taking on SUNY Plattsburgh in a morning single header. After nine close innings of baseball, Wilkes couldn't put together enough hits in the last frame, falling 3-2.
The game began with good pitching on each side, as Wilkes hurler
Sean Flecknoe (Wilkes-Barre, PA/G.A.R.) got the first three outs of the game via strike out. Wilkes scored the first run of the contest in the second on a
Mike Brennan (New Ringold, Pa./Marian Catholic) single to center, scoring
Scott Skammer (Dallas, PA/Dallas) who had stolen second earlier. The 1-0 lead didn't last long, as in the fourth inning Plattsburgh put together a string of hits, scoring two runs to take the lead, 2-1.
Each pitcher settled down in the middle innings, and going into the eighth inning the score was still 2-1. Plattsburgh tacked on another run in the eighth on a Colonel wild pitch, pushing its lead to two. Wilkes set itself up for a big inning in the bottom of the frame, as
Mike McAndrew (Avoca, Pa./Pittston Area) and
Matt Ruch (Dallas, Pa./Holy Redeemer ) led off with singles and no outs. The Cardinals then converted on a double play, spoiling the Colonel charge.
In the bottom of the ninth Wilkes had its final chance to get back into the game, and had two runners on in Skammer and
Al Clocker (Swoyersville/Wyoming Valley West). Brennan came up and knocked a single to left, but no runs were scored and the based were loaded. Up came
Carmen Lopresto (Pittston, PA/Pittston Area), and he hit a single to left, scoring one and making it a one run game with one out. Unfortunately, Plattsburgh turned a close double play on the ensuing at-bat, ending the game at 3-2.
The Colonels were led by Brennan and Lopresto with two hits and an RBI a piece, while Flecknoe went seven innings, striking out eight and giving up just four hits.
The Colonels will look to bounce back in their double-header against PSU Berks on Sunday, March 7. The first game will begin at 3:00 p.m.
