LATE INNING HEROICS HELP WILKES BASEBALL UPEND MANHATTANVILLE 13-11

3/30/2012 7:18:00 PM

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LATE INNING HEROICS HELP WILKES BASEBALL UPEND MANHATTANVILLE 13-11

PURCHASE, N.Y. – Wilkes University posted one of the biggest comebacks in school history trailing by 10 runs entering the seventh inning only to score 12 runs through the final three frames to upend host Manhattanville College 13-11 Friday afternoon in a Freedom Conference matchup.

Wilkes improves to 9-12 overall and 2-5 in Freedom play. Manhattanville drops to 6-8 overall and 2-5 in league games.

The Valiants struck early and often scoring five runs in the first and five more in the third to take a 10-0 lead through three innings of play. The Colonels got on the board in the fourth as Tyler Marino (Wilkes-Barre, PA/Meyers) doubled down the right field line and later scored on an RBI double from Stephen Ruch (Dallas, PA/Holy Redeemer) to cut the lead to 10-1.

Wilkes entered the seventh down 11-1 as the squad began its furious comeback. Scott Skammer (Dallas, PA/Dallas) led off the frame with an infield single. Joe Dantas (Reading, PA/Fleetwood) followed with a ground-rule double to place runners on second and third. Carmen Lopresto (Pittston, PA/Pittston Area) then grounded out to short scoring Skammer as Wilkes trailed 11-2. Another RBI groundout from S. Ruch plated Dantas as Wilkes cut the deficit to 11-3.

After a scoreless Manhattanville seventh, the Wilkes bats were at the offensive again in the eighth. Dan Pisanchyn (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights) started the inning with a solo home run to right field making it 11-4. S. Ruch added his third hit on the afternoon singling through the left side. Another base hit from Tay Sidler (Pottsville, PA/Pottsville Area) was followed by a fielder's choice putting runners at first and second. Dantas then doubled scoring both runners as Wilkes still trailed 11-6 after eight.

Another scoreless Manhattanville frame in the eighth gave Wilkes hope for the full comeback in the ninth. Lopresto connected on a leadoff single and stole second. Matt Ruch (Dallas, PA/Holy Redeemer) then singled advancing Lopresto to third. Another base hit from Marino plated Lopresto cutting the advantage to 11-7. Pisanchyn and Bobby Schappell (Pottsville, PA/Pottsville) followed with back-to-back RBI singles as the Colonels trailed by just two runs with the bases loaded. After a foul out and strikeout put the Colonels down to their last out, Dantas delivered with a clutch bases-clearing double to give Wilkes its first lead of the game at 12-11. Wilkes added one more insurance run in the inning on a Manhattanville passed ball leading 13-11 heading into the bottom of the ninth.

Brandon Carling (Old Forge, PA/Old Forge Area) pitched the ninth sealing the win with a groundout, strikeout, and flyout as Wilkes escaped with the Freedom road victory.

Dantas led the offense finishing 3-for-6 with five RBI's. Lopresto was 4-for-6 with three singles, while M. Ruch, Marino, and Pisanchyn all added two hits each. S. Ruch went 3-for-5 with one RBI.

Marc Perry (Dunmore, PA/Dunmore) recorded the win in the circle pitching a scoreless eighth inning. Carling posted his third save on the season with a scoreless ninth.

The teams will complete the three game series tomorrow with a twin bill barring the predicted rain forecasted for Northeastern Pennsylvania. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Artillery Park.

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