KINGSTON – In a game with ramifications regarding seeding in the upcoming Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) tournament, the Wilkes University baseball team fell in a classic pitcher's duel by a 2-1 final against DeSales University in game one of the team's doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Artillery Park.

The Colonels fell to 12-6 in MAC Freedom play and 17-13 overall.

After a scoreless top of the first, Joe Champi (Dupont, PA/Pittston) got Wilkes on the board in the bottom half of the frame with an RBI single bringing home Michael Patrizio (Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) after he beat out an infield single and moved to second on a throwing error by the Bulldog's centerfielder.

DeSales tied the game in the top of the third on a bases-loaded walk, and took the lead in the top of the fifth on a two-out run scoring single.

Wilkes' batters found life late in the game as a hit-by-pitch and a walk forced Bulldogs starter Ian Kacergis from the game with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but DeSales was able to end the game on a running catch deep in the right-center gap by the Bulldog's right fielder.

Jeremy Worlinsky (Swoyersville, PA/Holy Redeemer) finished with a no-decision after working the first four innings while allowing one run on four hits and six walks. Colin Smith (Purdys, NY/Somers) fell to 3-3 on the season after allowing one run on two hits with three walks and one strikeout. Zach Adamchick (Bloomsburg, PA/Bloomsburg) pitched a scoreless two innings to finish the game, surrendering just two hits and one walk.

Kacergis improved to 5-3 on the year after going 6.1 innings and allowing only an unearned run on three hits with one walk and seven strikeouts while Konner Schneider closed out the final two-thirds of the bottom of the seventh to earn his fourth save.

Patrizio, Champi, and Tyler Walther (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) earned the only hits for the Colonels.

Game two of the doubleheader was called off after a handful of lightning strikes and will be completed tomorrow at DeSales before the teams finish their series with the nine inning game. In the bottom of the second, Wilkes was trailing 1-0 with a runner on first and two outs.