Game One Box / Game Two Box

CENTER VALLEY – The Colonels put together rallies in each game but in both cases they weren't enough, including a extra innings game one loss as Wilkes University dropped both games of a doubleheader to DeSales University, 4-3 and 12-7, in a Freedom Conference baseball matchup on Sunday in Center Valley.

Down 1-0 in game one, Tom Plessl (Schnecksville, PA/Parkland) led off the fourth with a single then stole second to get into scoring position. Two batters and two outs later, Tay Sidler (Pottsville, PA/Pottsville Area) sgineld to left, driving home Plessl to knot the score at one apiece.

After two runs by DeSales in the fifth, the Colonels came back to tie the score, with things getting started again with Plessl.

Reaching first on a walk, Plessl stole second again, and then scored when Angus Neary (Old Forge/Riverside) doubled down the left field line. He then crossed the plate the following batter, when Sidler drove him in with a single to left center.

The game would go to the eighth, where DeSales would capitalize on a mistake by the Colonels. After a leadoff single, the runner would get moved to second on a sacrifice bunt down the third base line, but seeing that no one was covering the bag, advanced to third to get within 90 feet of the win with just one out.

After an intentional walk put runners at the corners, another bunt by DeSales down the third base line left the runner there until he broke on the throw to first. The throw to home wouldn't be in time as the Bulldogs came away with the win.

Zach Lazar (Berwick, PA/Berwick Area) got the start on the mound for the Colonels and went 5.1 innings, striking out three and giving up three earned runs on eight hits. Brandon Carling (Old Forge, PA/Old Forge Area) got the loss in relief, as he struck out three in 2.1 innings of work, giving up two hits and one earned.

Sidler got two of Wilkes six hits, driving in two runs. Plessl, Neary, Matt Ruch (Dallas, PA/Holy Redeemer) and Al Clocker (Swoyersville/Wyoming Valley West) each added a hit for the Colonels.

DeSales (10-7, 5-1) struck first in game two, getting four runs on just two hits in the second inning to take the early lead.

The Colonels picked up two runs in their half of the third on RBI doubles from Ruch and Eric Bidwell (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Valley), before DeSales broke the game open with seven in the bottom of the third, taking the 11-2 lead.

Wilkes (10-7, 5-3) had its big inning in the sixth, scoring four runs to cut the Bulldogs lead to five. The big hit in the inning being a two-run double by Tyler Marino (Wilkes-Barre, PA/Meyers).

DeSales picked up an insurance run the sixth, then allowed just one more Wilkes run to take the five-run win.

Clocker picked up two hits in game two as seven Colonels combined for eight hits.

Sean Flecknoe (Wilkes-Barre, PA/G.A.R.) suffered his first loss of the year and is now 4-1, going on 2.1 innings in the start, walking four and giving up five hits and nine earned runs.

The two losses moved the Colonels down to second in the Freedom Conference as DeSales took over the top spot.

The Colonels will look to get a game closer on Monday as they return home to host the final game in the series with DeSales. The first pitch is set for 3:30 p.m. from Artillery Park.