Box Score

The Wilkes University baseball team hosted Scranton on Thursday in non-conference action, and after collecting 18 hits and holding the Royals to six runs, the Colonels picked up the victory, 14-6.

Making the start for the Colonels was Al Clocker (Swoyersville/Wyoming Valley West), and in the top of the first the Royals took advantage of a Wilkes error and ended up scoring two runs in the frame. In the bottom of the first the Colonels had the bases loaded with no on out and couldn't convert, ending the inning with a play at the plate.

Wilkes answered in the third, as a bases loaded single by Rich Cosgrove (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Myers H.S.) scored two runs to tie up the contest. Then Justin Fortin (Stroudsburg/Stroudsburg) hit a double to deep left center, scoring two more and giving Wilkes a 4-2 lead. Meanwhile, Clocker kept dealing through the middle innings, surrendering only one hit through six innings.

In the sixth inning Wilkes tacked on three more runs on an Angus Neary (Old Forge/Riverside) triple to right center field and a Matt Ruch (Dallas, Pa./Holy Redeemer ) single, cushioning the Colonel lead. In the seventh, hits by Mike McAndrew (Avoca, Pa./Pittston Area), Shawn Ward (Moosic, Pa./Riverside), Mike Olerta (Springfield, Va./Robert E. Lee ), Ruch and Joe Dantas (Reading, Pa./Fleetwood) scored five more runs for the Colonels. In the eighth Scranton scored one run, while a two-run inside the park home run by Trevin Jaggars (Honesdale, Pa./Honesdale) gave Wilkes a 14-3 advantage. In the ninth Scranton added three runs, but Wilkes was finally able to shut the door, winning 14-6.

Clocker picked up the win, pitching six innings and surrendering just one hit and striking out five. Offensively Wilkes was led by Neary, Cosgrove, Fortin and Jaggars, each of whom had two RBI's.

The Colonels play tomorrow, Friday April 30, at Delaware Valley in their last away game of the season. That game will begin at 3:30 p.m.