Box Score

WILKES-BARRE – Matt Ruch (Dallas, PA/Holy Redeemer) and Joel Watson (Honesdale, PA/Honesdale) both homered to key a seven-run first inning and four different pitchers combined to throw a two-hitter as Wilkes University easily defeated Baptist Bible College 11-1 in a non-conference baseball matchup on Friday at Artillery Park.

The Colonels first inning included eight hits, four being for extra bases.

Carmen Lopresto (Pittston, PA/Pittston Area) walked and Jordan Ramirez (Dallas/Coughlin) doubled off the net in left before Ruch's big blast quickly made it 3-0. Watson's shot bent around the left field foul pole three batters later after Angus Neary (Old Forge/Riverside) got on with a single.

Justin Fortin (Stroudsburg/Stroudsburg) added an RBI single and Ramirez got his second double of the inning to bring in another run.

Baptist Bible managed their run in the top of the second, as the Defenders managed their only two hits of the day off of Colonels starter Al Clocker (Swoyersville/Wyoming Valley West).

Sean Flecknoe (Wilkes-Barre, PA/G.A.R.), Brandon Michael (Berwick, PA/Berwick Area) and Joe Harvey (Clifford Twp., PA/Mountain View) then combined to throw the final five innings, allowing just two runners to get on base, neither getting as far as second.

The Colonels added runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings, getting RBI hits from Neary and Eric Bidwell (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Valley), along with a pair of sacrifice flies from Fortin and Ramirez.

Wilkes finished with 11 hits on the day, spread out among nine different players.

The Colonels (15-13) return to the diamond on Monday when they travel to Keuka Park, NY to play a doubleheader with Keuka College. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.