Box Score

WILKES-BARRE – Carmen Lopresto (Pittston, PA/Pittston Area), A.J. Mihaly (Berwick, PA/Berwick Area) and Rich Cosgrove (Wilkes-Barre/Meyers) each had multiple hits and Tom Plessl (Schnecksville, PA/Parkland) had two RBI's but the Colonels couldn't pull out a come from behind victory over Misericordia on Friday, falling 4-3 to the Cougars at Artillery Park.

Al Clocker (Swoyersville/Wyoming Valley West) got the start for Wilkes, and in the second inning he ran into some trouble, as the Cougars struck first in the form of a solo homerun. Misericordia then strung together a few hits to plate two more runners and take an early 3-0 lead.

Wilkes answered in the bottom of the fourth frame when Plessl singled, scoring Lopresto and Mihaly. This came right after Mihaly drove in Mike Olerta (Springfield, VA/Robert E. Lee) for the Colonels' first score of the game.

With the game knotted up at three runs a piece, Misericordia was able to manufacture a run in the sixth inning to take a 4-3 lead. The only time Wilkes was able to get a runner into scoring position the rest of the contest came in the bottom of the ninth when Rich Cosgrove (Wilkes-Barre/Meyers) was sacrificed over the second with one out. Unfortunately, the Colonels couldn't drive Cosgrove home, falling 4-3.

Clocker went six innings, giving up four runs and striking out four batters. Brandon Carling (Old Forge, PA/Old Forge Area) had a solid game in relief, giving up a single hit in three innings pitched while striking out four. Lopresto, Cosgrove and Mihaly each recorded multiple hits for Wilkes, while Plessl drove in two runners on the afternoon.

The Colonels will now look to bounce back and continue their quest for the Freedom Conference Playoffs when they head to Dallas to take on the Cougars on Saturday. That doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.