Wilkes University Athletics

THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE WILKES UNIVERSITY COLONELS

THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE WILKES UNIVERSITY COLONELS WILKES UNIVERSITY COLONELS

Steve Finkernagel

Matt Ruch finished 3-for-5 including a bases clearing double in game two against Eastern

WILKES BASEBALL FALLS TWICE AT EASTERN IN FREEDOM DOUBLEHEADER

3/17/2012 6:56:00 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

WILKES BASEBALL FALLS TWICE AT EASTERN IN FREEDOM DOUBLEHEADER

ST. DAVIDS – The Wilkes University baseball team dropped a pair of games at Eastern University Saturday afternoon in a Freedom Conference doubleheader. Eastern claimed an 18-1 win in game one, then followed with a 10-7 victory in the nightcap.

Wilkes slips to 5-8 overall and 1-2 in league play, while Eastern improves to 9-4 overall and 2-1 in Freedom contests.

Game one was all Eagles as the hosts pounded out 19 hits and 18 runs over the seven inning affair. Eastern jumped out to a 7-0 lead after two innings of play then plated 10 runs in the fourth to clinch the opener.

Carmen Lopresto (Pittston, PA/Pittston Area) finished with two hits for the Colonels. Matt Ruch (Dallas, PA/Holy Redeemer), Tay Sidler (Pottsville, PA/Pottsville Area), and Bobby Schappell (Pottsville, PA/Pottsville) posted one hit each as Wilkes managed just five hits in the contest. Starter Ryan Fetterman (Endicott, NY/Maine Endwell ) recorded the loss on the mound going just one and two-thirds allowing seven runs on eight hits.

The Eagles wasted little time getting off to a good start in game two leading 4-0 after three innings of play. Wilkes finally responded in the fourth with a four-run frame to tie the game. Joel Watson (Honesdale, PA/Honesdale) singled to right field followed by a Stephen Ruch (Dallas, PA/Holy Redeemer) single to left field. Pinch-hitter Michael Olerta connect on an RBI single to center field scoring Watson. After back-to-back walks loaded the bases, M. Ruch doubled to deep center field plating all three Colonel runs tying the game at four.

The Eastern bats were up to the task yet again breaking the tie with a five-run fourth inning to take back the lead for good, 9-4. Wilkes scored twice in the seventh to make things interesting down 10-7, but the Colonels could not find another key hit to make the comeback complete in their final at-bats.

M. Ruch finished 2-for-5 with three RBI's to lead the Wilkes offense in game two. Watson and Schappell added two hits each.

Sean Flecknoe (Wilkes-Barre, PA/G.A.R.) was tabbed with the loss on the mound going three innings allowing nine runs on 11 hits.

Up next, the Colonels host Penn College Tuesday in non-conference action at 3:30 p.m. at Artillery Park.

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