ST. DAVID'S, Pa. – The Wilkes University baseball team lost both games of its Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom doubleheader at Eastern University in St. David's, Pa. on Saturday afternoon.

The Colonels are now 7-7 overall and 0-3 in MAC Freedom play.

In game one, Wilkes pulled ahead in the top of the first on three hits and two errors. Junior Matthew Reese (Wellsboro, PA/Wellsboro) led of the game with a single to center and then stole second and advanced to third on an error by the catcher. Sophomore Jarret Clymer (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom) stepped up next and hit a single to center to drive in Reese and proceeded to steal both second and third with sophomore Joe Champi (Dupont, PA/Pittston) at the plate, allowing Champi to single to the pitcher to drive in Clymer while advancing to second on an error by the Eagles first baseman.

Eastern fought back, scoring three runs to take the lead in the bottom of the third on two walks and three hits. The Eagles then scored one run in the fourth, four runs in the fifth, and two runs in the sixth to take a 10-2 lead.

Colonels' senior starting pitcher Marcus Leaf (Reading, PA/Berks Catholic) went 2.1 innings, giving up three earned runs on four hits with five walks and two strikeouts to fall to 1-1 on the season. Ryan Kehr went six innings for the Eagles giving up two earned runs on five hits with one walk and seven strikeouts to improve to 2-0 on the season.

Wilkes freshman Jack Fischer (River Vale, NJ/Pascack Valley) was 2-for-2 in the first game, while Clymer was 1-for-2 with one rbi and one run scored. Champi went 1-for-3 with one rbi, and Reese was 1-for-3 with one run scored.

In the second game, the Colonels scored in the first inning as Reese reached on an error and advanced to second and came around to score on Champi's rbi single. In the second inning, junior Alex Kramer (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) led off getting hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a ground out, reached third on a wild pitch, and scored on Reese's single to center field. Wilkes scored another run in the third when senior Ryan Herbst (East Islip, NY/St. John the Baptist) led off with a single to center, advanced to second on a passed ball, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on an error by the catcher, giving the Colonels a 3-0 lead through three innings.

Eastern came roaring back in the bottom of the fourth scoring four runs on five hits and three walks to take a 4-3 lead. The Eagles added another run in the sixth on two hits and an error to finish the scoring and give Eastern the 5-3 win.

Wilkes junior starting pitcher Chris Nixon (Swoyersville, PA/Wyoming Valley West) went three-plus innings, giving up four earned runs on five hits with zero walks and five strikeouts, suffering his first loss of the season. Nick Centeno pitched 3.2 innings of scoreless relief for the Eagles, surrendering three hits and striking out three batters for his first win.

The Colonels were led at the plate by Herbst and Champi, who each went 2-for-3 in the second game with Herbst scoring one run and Champi driving one in.

Wilkes returns to the field on Tuesday when it will host Penn College for a 3 p.m. non-conference contest at Artillery Park.