COLONEL BASEBALL FALLS IN FINAL INNING 12-10 AGAINST FDU-FLORHAM

3/23/2012 7:39:00 PM

Box Score

COLONEL BASEBALL FALLS IN FINAL INNING 12-10 AGAINST FDU-FLORHAM

EDWARDSVILLE, PA – Trailing by one run entering its last at-bats, visiting FDU-Florham scored five runs in the ninth to post a 12-10 comeback win over Wilkes University Friday afternoon at Artillery Park.

With the loss Wilkes drops to 5-10 overall and 1-3 in league play. FDU-Florham improves to 5-8 and evens its conference mark at 2-2.

Matt Ruch (Dallas, PA/Holy Redeemer) started the first with a one-out triple to right field. Tyler Marino (Wilkes-Barre, PA/Meyers) and Tay Sidler (Pottsville, PA/Pottsville Area) drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Michael Olerta was then hit by a pitch scoring the Colonels run in the frame. A double play ended the inning with Wilkes leading 1-0.

FDU-Florham tied the game at 1-1 in the fourth using two hits including an RBI single from Matt Joiner. The Devils took their first lead at 2-1 in the sixth when Ryan Fandel singled home Nick Core. Core began the frame with a base hit before moving to second on a fielder's choice.

The Colonels answered with the tying run in the sixth. Sidler led-off the frame with a walk and moved to second on an Olerta sacrifice bunt. After Joel Watson (Honesdale, PA/Honesdale) groundout out to second base moving Sidler to third, Stephen Ruch (Dallas, PA/Holy Redeemer) came through with a two-out RBI single to left field.

FDU-Florham's Steve Seminerio gave the Devils a 3-2 lead tripling to right field scoring Nick Marucci in the seventh. Brandan Adams followed with an RBI base hit scoring Seminerio to give FDU a 4-2 lead.

Bobbly Schappell started the Wilkes' seventh with an infield single. Carmen Lopresto (Pittston, PA/Pittston Area) followed with a triple to deep right field scoring Schappell to cut the deficit to 4-3. Sidler's fielder's choice tied the game at 4-4 placing runners on first and second with one out. Following a wild pitch, a throwing error by the catcher on an attempted pick-off at second base allowed Wilkes to score and take back the lead, 5-4.

From there, Dan Pisanchyn (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights)'s pinch-hit bases clearing double broke open the game for the Colonels as Wilkes led 8-4 after seven innings of play.

FDU-Florham pulled to within one with three runs in the eighth using three RBI singles to setup the ninth. The Devils totaled three hits including a two-run double from Matt Joiner in their final at-bats to take a 12-8 lead.

Wilkes scored two runs in the bottom half of the inning to come to within two, 12-10. Olerta walked and moved to second on a Watson single. Tim Benner (Catawissa, PA/Southern Columbia) reached on a fielder's choice scoring Olerta for the Colonels first run of the frame. Joe Dantas (Reading, PA/Fleetwood) then connected on a pinch-hit single scoring Watson on the play. The rally would end when Lopresto hit into a double play to end the contest as FDU escaped with the road victory.

Starter Zach Lazar (Berwick, PA/Berwick Area) went 6.1 innings allowing 11 hits and four runs striking out three batters. Brandon Carling (Old Forge, PA/Old Forge Area) entered in relief going 1.1 innings allowing four hits and three runs with two strikeouts. Marc Seibel entered in the eighth allowing three hits and five runs to record the loss.

Ten Colonels reached base safely in the game led by Olerta and Watson's two hits.

Wilkes concludes the three-game series at FDU-Florham tomorrow in a doubleheader scheduled for 1:00 p.m. in Madison, N.J.

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