ST. DAVID'S, Pa. – Nick Pronti (Wood-Ridge, NJ/Wood-Ridge) hit a two-run double and a three-run home run in the fifth and sixth innings of game two to lead the Wilkes University baseball team to a split of its Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) doubleheader with Eastern University, taking the second game 9-5 after dropping the first game 8-4.

The Colonels now sit at 1-1 in conference and 4-6 overall.

Wilkes trailed 4-1 heading into the top of the fifth of the second game before Pronti's two-run double that brought home Matt Reinert (Telford, PA/Souderton) and Bryan Nifenecker (Amityville, NY/St. Dominic). Reinert led off the inning with a double and went to third on a single from Nifenecker. Jack Fischer (River Vale, NJ/Pascack Valley) put the Colonels out in front with a two-run single that brought in Pronti and Keaton Allison (Aiken, SC/Aiken), who walked prior to Pronti's double.

Pronti put the game away in the top of the sixth, knocking his first collegiate homer over the wall in left center, bringing in Nifenecker and Allison, who walked and reached on a hit by pitch, respectively.

Matt Amaral (Taylor, PA/Riverside) picked up the victory in the second game, throwing five-plus innings and surrendering four runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts. Colin Smith (Purdys, NY/Somers) earned his first career save after tossing the final two innings.

Pronti (2-3, two runs, five RBI's), Fischer (2-4, two RBI's), and Nifenecker (2-4, two runs, one RBI) led the way at the plate for Wilkes in the nightcap.

In game one, the Colonels jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the third after Fischer hit a sacrifice fly that brought in Michael Patrizio (Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) after Patrizio walked and moved up two bases following a sacrifice bunt from Brady Wing (Syracuse, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt).

The Eagles answered with runs in the third and fourth, taking a 4-1 lead.

Wilkes cut the deficit to 4-3 in the top of the fifth with two runs on three hits. Wing led off the inning with a double and moved to third when Fischer singled before coming in to score on Joe Champi (Dupont, PA/Pittston)'s double. Tyler Walther (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) then brought in Fischer with a sacrifice fly.

Eastern responded with two more runs in the bottom of the fifth and the bottom of the sixth.

Jeremy Worlinsky (Swoyersville, PA/Holy Redeemer) started on the mound in game one, going the first five innings and allowing six runs (three earned) on five hits with four walks and five strikeouts, followed by Andrew Indzonka (New Windsor, NY/Our Lady of Lourdes) for the final frame.

Wing (2-3, one run),  Champi (2-4, one RBI), and Reinert (2-4, one RBI), each finished with multi-hit efforts in the defeat.

The Colonels return to the diamond tomorrow when they play the rubber match against Eastern. Due to uncertain field conditions, the game has been moved to Eastern with a 2:00 p.m. start time.