ST. DAVID'S, Pa. – Joe Champi (Dupont, PA/Pittston) and Michael Patrizio (Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) combined to go 6-for-8 with three RBI's and three runs scored as the Wilkes University baseball team defeated Eastern University 8-5 in the rubber game to take its first Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) series of the 2018 season.

The Colonels improved to 2-1 in conference and 5-6 overall.

After Eastern opened the scoring in the top of the third, Vincent Uzzi (Shoreham, NY/Shoreham-Wading River) evened the score when he singled in the bottom of the frame to bring in Patrizio, who led off with an infield single and stole second before coming home.

Wilkes jumped out in the bottom of the fourth when Patrizio knocked an RBI double to right that brought home Tyler Walther (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) and was followed by a two-run double from Jack Fischer (River Vale, NJ/Pascack Valley) that scored Patrizio and Matt Reinert (Telford, PA/Souderton) and a run-scoring single by Champi bringing in Fischer to give the Colonels a 5-1 advantage.

After the Eagles added a second run in the top of the fifth, Wilkes got RBI singles from Reinert, Patrizio, and Brady Wing (Syracuse, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt) as the Colonels stretched their lead to 8-2.

Eastern chipped away at its deficit with three unearned runs in the top of the seventh but Wilkes was able to slam the door.

Kyle Pokrinchak (Nanticoke, PA/Nanticoke ) earned his first collegiate victory on the mound, tossing the first 6.2 innings while surrendering five runs (two earned) on eight hits and one walk with six strikeouts. Matthew Konikow (Mahwah, NJ/Mahwah) earned his first save with a clean final 2.1 innings.

In addition to Champi and Patrizio, Reinert finished 2-3 with two runs scored and one RBI while Fischer added two RBI's and one run scored.

The Colonels return to the field on Monday when they travel to Muhlenberg for a 3:30 p.m. non-conference matchup.