KINGSTON, Pa. – Down 7-5 with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Joe Champi (Dupont, PA/Pittston) came through with a three-run single, aided by an error from the left fielder, to help the Wilkes University baseball team earn a double-header split as the Colonels took game one in walk-off fashion 8-7 before dropping the nightcap 3-1 at Artillery Park against Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) opponent Misericordia University on Saturday afternoon.

Wilkes now stands at 6-9 overall and 3-3 in conference games. This was the first win over the defending conference champions since 2015.

In game one, the Colonels opened the scoring in the bottom of the second when Nicholas Capozzi (Syracuse, NY/Christian Brothers Academy) singled to bring home Jarret Clymer (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom) from second who led off the frame with a walk and advanced on a wild pitch.

Misericordia pulled ahead 3-1 with two runs in the top of the third and one in the fourth.

Wilkes tied the score in the bottom of the fourth when Tyler Walther (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) singled to drive in Clymer who led off the inning with a double, and following a walk by Nick Pronti (Wood-Ridge, NJ/Wood-Ridge) to load the bases, an RBI sacrifice fly off the bat of Brady Wing (Syracuse, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt) to score Capozzi after he reached on a walk.

The Cougars retook the lead in the top of the fifth with two runs on two hits and added another two runs in the top of the sixth on two more hits to take a 7-3 advantage.

The Colonels began their comeback in the bottom of the sixth with two runs when Walther, Wing, and Jack Fischer (River Vale, NJ/Pascack Valley) all received free passes before Champi was hit to bring in Walther and Vincent Uzzi (Shoreham, NY/Shoreham-Wading River) reached on a fielder's choice to bring in Wing and make the score 7-5.

After holding Misericordia scoreless in the top of the seventh, Matt Reinert (Telford, PA/Souderton) started the bottom of the inning with a double to left and advanced to third on a wild pitch before Walther walked. After a strikeout, Wing walked to load the bases and was followed by another strikeout. Down to the final out, Champi came to the plate and worked a full count before lining a base hit to left that scooted right under the left fielder all the way to the fence allowing all three runs to score and send the Colonels into a frenzy.

Colin Smith (Purdys, NY/Somers) earned his first collegiate win with the final 1.1 innings, allowing just a walk. Jeremy Worlinsky (Swoyersville, PA/Holy Redeemer) started on the mound going the first 4.1 innings while surrendering four runs (three earned) on two hits with two walks and two strikeouts while Noah Durnin (Bath, PA/Northampton) went 1.1 giving up three runs on four hits with two strikeouts.

Champi finished 2-4 with three RBI's while Capozzi went 2-3 with one run scored, one RBI, and one walk.

In game two, Wilkes took the first lead in the bottom of the third when Michael Patrizio (Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) led off the inning with a single to left and stole second before advancing to third on a groundout and scoring on a wild pitch.

The Cougars tied the score in the top of the fourth on two hits before scoring single runs on the top of the sixth and seventh while holding the Colonels scoreless to take the game.

Matt Amaral (Taylor, PA/Riverside) fell to 2-2 on the season, going the first 5.2 innings while allowing two runs on seven hits with four walks and two strikeouts. Andrew Indzonka (New Windsor, NY/Our Lady of Lourdes) went the final 1.1 innings, surrendering one run on no hits.

Patrizio finished the second game 2-3 with one run scored while Wing and Clymer added one hit each.

Wilkes returns to the field on Tuesday when it travels to Marywood University for a 3:00 p.m. non-conference game.