MADISON, N.J. – Continuing to distance itself from pack, the Wilkes University baseball team swept a crucial Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) doubleheader from FDU-Florham on the road Saturday afternoon, taking game on 8-5 before notching game two 7-4.

The Colonels improved to 10-5 in conference this season and 15-12 overall.

Wilkes opened the scoring in the top of the second in game one when Nicholas Capozzi (Syracuse, NY/Christian Brothers Academy) led off with a walk, moved to third on Jarret Clymer (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom)'s double to right-center, and with two outs, Tyler Walther (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) laced a single to center to bring in both runners.

FDU-Florham responded in the bottom of the inning with five runs on three hits and one Colonel error.

Wilkes continued a season-long theme of battling back, cutting the deficit to one when Jack Fischer (River Vale, NJ/Pascack Valley) hit a one-out single in the top of the third, moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored when Joe Champi (Dupont, PA/Pittston) doubled to the gap in left-center. Capozzi followed with a run-scoring double of his own as the Colonels closed the inning trailing 5-4.

After holding the Devils scoreless in the bottom of the third, Matt Reinert (Telford, PA/Souderton) led off the top of the fourth with a double and came into score on an error to tie the game.

Capozzi brought home Fischer to give Wilkes the lead after Fischer led off with a single and moved to second when Champi was hit by a pitch in the top of the fifth.

The Colonels put the game away with runs in the sixth and seventh.

Jeremy Worlinsky (Swoyersville, PA/Holy Redeemer) improved to 2-2 with the win, tossing the first five innings while surrendering five runs (four earned) on five hits with five walks and one strikeout. Colin Smith (Purdys, NY/Somers) earned his second save with two scoreless innings to close it out.

Capozzi finished the first game 3-for-3 with one run scored and three RBI's to lead Wilkes at the plate. Fischer added two hits with two runs scored.

The Colonels were first to cross the plate in the second game when Michael Patrizio (Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) led off with a single, moved to second on a groundout, and scored on an error in the top of the first.

After the Devils tied the score in the bottom of the inning, Wilkes retook the lead on a throwing error in the top of the second after Brady Wing (Syracuse, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt) stole second, allowing Reinert, who led off the inning with a single and a stolen base, to come home from third.

The Colonels continued to tack on runs in the top of the third, as Champi led off the inning with a walk and moved to third on a double from Capozzi. After Champi scored on a single from Clymer, Capozzi moved to third on an error and scored on Vincent Uzzi (Shoreham, NY/Shoreham-Wading River)'s single to right-center. After a pop-out, Walther walked to load the bases before Wing hit a sacrifice fly to score Clymer and give Wilkes a 5-1 cushion.

FDU-Florham closed the gap with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth to make the score 5-2, but Wing hit another sacrifice fly to score Reinert in the top of the fifth to recapture the four run lead at 6-2.

Uzzi added a seventh run in the top of the sixth when he singled to left-center bringing in Champi, who led off with a single.

The Devils crossed the plate once in the sixth and seventh but Wilkes escaped with the win.

Matt Amaral (Taylor, PA/Riverside) improved to 5-2, going 6.2 innings while allowing four runs (three earned) on two hits with four walks and two strikeouts. Andrew Indzonka (New Windsor, NY/Our Lady of Lourdes) earned the save after recording the final out.

Champi (2-4, two runs), Clymer (2-4, one run, one RBI), Uzzi (2-4, two RBI's), and Reinert (2-3, two runs) all finished with multiple hits.

The Colonels continue this difference-making weekend tomorrow when they host Delaware Valley University for the teams' long-postponed MAC Freedom doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m.