KINGSTON – The Wilkes University baseball team surrendered 12 runs with two outs in its 13-8 loss to Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom-foe Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham at Artillery Park on Friday afternoon.

The Colonels fell to 17-16 overall and 6-10 in MAC Freedom play.

FDU-Florham scored five runs in the top of the first on two hits and three walks with a grand slam.

Wilkes started to chip away in the bottom of the inning, scoring one run on two hits. Sophomore Jarret Clymer (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom) laced a one-out double to the gap in right center, stole third, and came in to score on an rbi groundout by junior Joshua Slocum (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights). Sophomore Joe Champi (Dupont, PA/Pittston) ripped a triple to right center with two outs but the Colonels were unable to bring him home.

The Devils added a sixth run in the top of the second on a single, a walk, a sacrifice bunt, and a sacrifice fly.

Wilkes cut the lead to 6-2 in the bottom of the second on two hits and a walk. Freshman Jack Fischer (River Vale, NJ/Pascack Valley) drew a one-out walk and moved to second on a single by junior Alex Kramer (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East). Freshman Matt Dacey (Mountaintop, PA/Holy Redeemer) followed with a single to left that was misplayed by the left fielder, allowing every runner to move up a base and bringing Fischer home.

The Colonels added two more runs in the bottom of the third on two hits and a walk. Slocum drew a one-out walk but was forced at second on a fielder's choice off the bat of Champi. Senior Ryan Herbst (East Islip, NY/St. John the Baptist) singled to left to advance Champi to second, and both runners came around to score on a double by junior James Brown (Covington, PA/North Pocono) off the left field wall to cut the lead to 6-4.

Wilkes tied the game in the bottom of the fourth when junior Alex Kramer (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) led off the inning with a single and came home on the first career home run off the bat of Dacey. The Colonels loaded the bases later in the inning but were unable to take the lead.

FDU-Florham regained the lead in the top of the seventh on two hits and a walk to make the score 7-6, and added four runs in the top of the eighth on four hits and two walks, including a solo homer and a three-run shot to make the score 11-7. The Devils added two more runs in the top of the ninth on three hits and a hit-by-pitch.

Wilkes attempted to mount a comeback in the bottom of the ninth as junior Tanner Smith (Upper Black Eddy, PA/Palisades) led off with a single and Champi launched a one-out home run to left to cut the lead to 13-8. The Colonels got another runner on base but were unable to cause any more damage.

Senior Marcus Leaf (Reading, PA/Berks Catholic) fell to 1-2 with the loss, surrendering seven earned runs in 4.1 innings, yielding four hits with five walks and five strikeouts.

Champi led the way at the plate, finishing 3-for-5 with two rbi's and two runs scored. Herbst (one run scored), Kramer (one run scored), and Dacey (one rbi and one runs scored) all finished 2-for-4 on the day.

Wilkes returns to action tomorrow when it will travel to FDU-Florham for a 1 p.m. MAC Freedom double-header.