KINGSTON – Misericordia University put up four runs each in the fifth, sixth, and ninth innings to take the series finale against the Wilkes University baseball team in a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom game on Monday afternoon by a 17-7 final.

The Colonels are now 6-15 on the year and 1-7 in MAC Freedom play.

Wilkes started the scoring in the bottom of the first when senior Joshua Slocum (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights) crushed his first home run of the season over the left field fence, driving in freshman Tyler Walther (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley), who walked one batter before.

The Cougars responded with three runs in the top of the second on four hits and two errors.

The Colonels tied the game in the bottom of the second with one run on no hits. Senior James Brown (Covington, PA/North Pocono) led off with a walk and oved to second on wild pitch before sophomore Jack Fischer (River Vale, NJ/Pascack Valley) walked. Junior Dan Eicher (Massapequa Park, NY/Kellenberg) moved both runners over with a sacrifice bunt, and after a groundout Brown came in to score on a wild pitch.

Wilkes took the lead in the bottom of the third with one run on two hits. Junior Joe Champi (Dupont, PA/Pittston) led off the frame with a walk and moved to second when Walther's groundball hit the umpire for a single. After a flyout, Walther advanced to second on the back end of a double steal attempt that had Champi caught at third, and came in to score on a single from freshman Matt Reinert (Telford, PA/Souderton).

Misericordia tied the game in the top of the fourth on one hit and one error.

The Colonels retook the lead again in the bottom of the fourth when Fischer led off with a double and moved to third on a flyout with the throw getting away from the third baseman, allowing Fischer to come home.

The Cougars took the lead in the top of the fifth with four runs on four hits. Misericordia added another four runs in the top of the sixth on five hits.

Wilkes cut the deficit to 12-6 in the bottom of the sixth on three hits. Brown led off with a single and advanced to second on a single from Fischer. After a flyout advanced Brown to third, sophomore Brady Wing (Syracuse, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt) singled to right to bring home Brown.

Misericordia pushed its lead to 13-6 in the top of the seventh with one run on one hit.

The Colonels brought home their seventh run in the bottom of the seventh on two hits. Reinert hit a one-out single to right and moved to third on a two-out single from Fischer.
After a walk to Eicher loaded the bases, senior Tanner Smith (Upper Black Eddy, PA/Palisades) walked to bring home Reinert.

The Cougars finished the scoring in the top of the ninth with four runs on four hits and two errors.

Senior Johnny Jan Jr. (Germantown, MD/Northwest) took the loss, surrendering six runs (four earned) on nine hits through the first 4.1 innings with two walks and one strikeout.

Fischer led Wilkes at the plate, finishing 3-for-3 with one run scored. Walther (2-5, one run, two RBI's), Slocum (2-5, one run, two RBI's), and Reinert (2-5, one run, one RBI) finished with multiple hits.

The Colonels return to the field tomorrow when they travel to Scranton for a 4:00 p.m. non-conference game.