ST. DAVIDS, Pa. – The Wilkes University baseball team was edged in the opener of its three game Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom series with Eastern University by a 12-2 final on Saturday afternoon.

The Colonels fell to 0-4 in MAC Freedom play and 5-11 overall.

The Eagles jumped out in the first inning with three runs on three hits and two Wilkes errors. Eastern added a fourth run in the bottom of the third.

Wilkes cut the deficit with one run in the top of the fifth on one hit and one error. Sophomore Jack Fischer (River Vale, NJ/Pascack Valley) reached on an error and advanced to second when junior Jarret Clymer (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom) walked. Both runners moved up two bases on a double from freshman Tyler Walther (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) that scored Fischer.

The Eagles broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth, scoring five runs on three hits to take a 9-1 lead, and added two more runs on three hits in the bottom of the sixth to lead 11-1.

The Colonels added another run in the top of the seventh on one hit. Fischer started the rally with a one-out walk and moved to third on a double from freshman Matt Reinert (Telford, PA/Souderton), coming home to score on a sacrifice fly by Walther.

Eastern finished the scoring in the bottom of the seventh with one run on two hits.

Senior Johnny Jan Jr. (Germantown, MD/Northwest) fell to 1-3 on the season, surrendering six runs (five earned) on six hits and one walk with two strikeouts.

Walther led Wilkes at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with two RBI's.

The Colonels return to action tomorrow when they host Eastern for a MAC Freedom doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m.