ARTILLERY PARK – After losing in game one 8-5 the Colonels bats came alive in game two as they pounded out 23 hits cruising to a 17-6 win.

With the split Wilkes moves to 15-14 overall and 9-7 in the Freedom Conference.  FDU-Florham goes to 8-18 overall and 6-8 in the conference.

In game one Wilkes took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a Stephen Ruch (Dallas, PA/Holy Redeemer) RBI single to center.  FDU tied the game up a half inning later on a RBI single to third.  The bottom half of the 2^nd saw the Colonels score two runs on a Jarret Clymer (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom) single up the middle.  Once again FDU battled back and scored two runs in the top of the 3^rd inning on a Reynaldo Diaz double.

Wilkes took a 4-3 lead heading into the 6^th before FDU exploded for four runs to go ahead 7-5.  The Devils tacked one more on in the top of the 7^th and the Colonels were unable to rally as they fell 8-5. 

Ruch had three hits in game one while Quinn Kelly (Collegeville, PA/Perkiomen Valley) picked up the loss in game one allowing 11 hits, seven runs (six earned) striking out eight in 5.1 innings pitched.

In game two the Colonels offense exploded for 23 total hits scoring 10 runs in the bottom of the 3^rd to take complete control of game two.  Trailing 5-3 headed into the bottom of the 3^rd the Colonels sent 15 batters to the plate with James Brown (Covington, PA/North Pocono) collecting his second triple of the game.

In the 4^th the Colonels added two more runs on a Dan Pisanchyn (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights) sac fly to right and a Joe Champi (Dupont, PA/Pittston) double to right.  Alex Kramer (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) laced a two RBI single to left in the bottom of the 6^th to conclude the Colonels scoring.

Nine different Colonels had two hits or more in game two.  Ruch finished 4-for-4 with three doubles and three runs scored.  Brown had two triples and five RBI's with Pisanchyn picking up three hits, and two RBI's.  Champi finished the second game with three hits and two RBI's, while Joshua Slocum (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights) and Zak Berg (Mountain Top, PA/Crestwood) picked up two hits apiece and two runs scored.  Matt Kaster (Traben-Trabach, Germany/Crestwood) collected the win in game two striking out three in 2.2 innings pitched allowing zero hits.

Wilkes returns to action tomorrow afternoon when they host Manhattanville at 1:00 p.m. in a Freedom Conference affair.