KINGSTON – Clutch hitting played a huge part as the Wilkes University baseball team swept the Delaware Valley University Aggies in a Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. Senior Ryan Herbst (East Islip, NY/St. John the Baptist) hit a walk-off home run in a Colonels' comeback in game one for a 7-5 win and Wilkes scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth in game two to win 8-2.

The Colonels are now 11-7 overall and 3-3 in MAC Freedom play.

The Aggies jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the top of the first in game one on four hits as senior Marcus Leaf (Reading, PA/Berks Catholic) was unable to get out of the first inning. Delaware Valley added another run in the top of the second to extend its lead to 5-0, but Wilkes' bullpen would not surrender any more runs.

The Colonels bats came around in the bottom of the sixth inning scoring three runs on three hits. Junior James Brown (Covington, PA/North Pocono) led off the inning with a walk and was followed by a double from Herbst to give Wilkes runners on second and third with no outs. Sophomore Joe Champi (Dupont, PA/Pittston) followed with a double to drive in both runs, advancing to third on a fly out and coming in to score on junior Matthew Reese (Wellsboro, PA/Wellsboro)'s single.

Wilkes tied the score in the bottom of the seventh when freshman Matt Dacey (Mountaintop, PA/Holy Redeemer) hit a pinch-hit single to lead off the inning. Dacey was pinch-ran for by freshman Jack Fischer (River Vale, NJ/Pascack Valley), who advanced to second after Brown walked. Following a fly out, Champi came through again, ripping a double to left field to drive in both runs and tie the game at 5-5.

Neither team managed any offense until the bottom of the ninth when Brown was took a one-out walk and Herbst stepped up and crushed a pitch over the left field fence and give the Colonels the win.

Senior Patrick Condo (Dallas, PA/Holy Redeemer) earned the win after pitching the final two innings giving up one hit, one walk, and striking out one batter.

Herbst and Champi led Wilkes at the plate getting three hits each with Herbst driving in two runs and Champi driving in four.

In the second game, the Colonels scored runs in the first, third, and fifth to build a 3-0 lead. Delaware Valley scored two runs in the top of the second to get within one run, but Wilkes notched six hits in the bottom of the sixth to score five runs and put the game away.

Junior Chris Nixon (Swoyersville, PA/Wyoming Valley West) earned the win, pitching five innings, giving up one earned run and scattering two hits and two walks while striking out four batters. Junior Matt Kaster (Traben-Trabach, Germany/Crestwood) pitched the final two innings to get his second save of the season.

Brown and Champi were 2-for-4 in the second game while Herbst finished 2-for-3. Brown and Herbst drove in two runs and Champi drove in one.

Wilkes returns to action on Tuesday when it will host Penn State-Schuylkill for a 3 p.m. non-conference game at Artillery Park.