DALLAS – One run in the seventh and six runs in the eighth by Misericordia doomed the Wilkes University baseball team in the 8-2 opener of the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom series opener on between the two teams.

The Colonels are now 18-18 overall and 7-12 in MAC Freedom play.

Misericordia got on the board in the bottom of the first when a run came into score on an error.

Wilkes tied the game in the top of the fourth when senior Ryan Herbst (East Islip, NY/St. John the Baptist) singled home junior Joshua Slocum (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights), and took the lead in the top of the sixth when sophomore Joe Champi (Dupont, PA/Pittston) tripled to right field to drive in freshman Brady Wing (Syracuse, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt).

The Cougars tied the game in the bottom of the seventh on a wild pitch and scored six runs in the bottom of the eighth on three hits, two errors, one walk, and one hit-by-pitch to put the game out of reach.

Junior Matt Kaster (Traben-Trabach, Germany/Crestwood) pitched the final 1.2 innings, giving up six runs (one earned) on four hits, one walk and one strikeout to fall to 3-3 on the year.

Herbst led the Colonels at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with one run batted in.

Wilkes returns to action tomorrow when they face Misericordia for 1 p.m. MAC Freedom doubleheader. Prior to tomorrow's game, Wilkes baseball will honor its four seniors who will be playing in their final home games.