WILKES-BARRE – Despite letting an eighth and ninth inning lead slip away and allowing a runner to advance into scoring position in all of the extra innings of game one, the Wilkes University baseball team earned a hard-fought sweep of King's College on the road in a Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) doubleheader on Saturday, taking game one 13-6 in 12 innings and securing game two 3-1 in the normal seven innings.  This was the Colonels first three-game sweep since taking three games from Delaware Valley in 2016.

Wilkes improved to 6-3 in conference games and 10-10 overall. Wilkes now sits in third place in the MAC Freedom standings.

In game one, the Colonels wasted no time in securing a 2-0 lead as Joe Champi (Dupont, PA/Pittston) and Matt Reinert (Telford, PA/Souderton) knocked RBI singles to bring in Michael Patrizio (Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) and Champi, respectively.

King's tied the game with two runs on two hits in the bottom of the fourth.

Wilkes retook the lead in the top of the eighth on Champi's RBI single to left that brought home Brady Wing (Syracuse, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt) after Wing singled and moved to second on an excellent read after a pitch in the dirt.

The Monarchs tied the score in the bottom of the eighth on two hits.

After the Colonels retook the lead in the top of the ninth on a Wing single that scored Reinert, King's matched with a run of its own as the score was 4-4 through nine.

The game remained tied until the top of the 12^th when Wilkes exploded for nine runs on five hits and three errors to take a 13-4 lead. The Monarchs attempted a comeback with two runs in the bottom of the inning but the Colonels were able to hold on.

Colin Smith (Purdys, NY/Somers) improved to 3-1 with four innings in relief, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Jeremy Worlinsky (Swoyersville, PA/Holy Redeemer) tossed the first five innings, giving up two runs on six hits with three walks and three strikeouts while Nolan Ott (Montoursville, PA/Montoursville Area) pitched three innings, surrendering two runs (one earned) on five hits with two walks.

Nicholas Capozzi (Syracuse, NY/Christian Brothers Academy) (3-6, one run, two RBI's) and Reinert (3-6, two runs, one RBI) led the 14 hit outburst. Patrizio, Champi, Jarret Clymer (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom), and Wing each finished with two hits.

Game two was a much different outcome, as Matt Amaral (Taylor, PA/Riverside) pitched six effective innings to improve to 3-2 this season, allowing one run on three hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Andrew Indzonka (New Windsor, NY/Our Lady of Lourdes) earned the first save of his career with a scoreless seventh.

Wilkes took the lead in the top of the first as Patrizio used his speed to get around the bases, leading off with a walk, stealing second, moving to third on a single from Jack Fischer (River Vale, NJ/Pascack Valley), and scoring on a sacrifice fly from Champi.

The lead didn't hold up for long as King's scored its lone run in the bottom of the inning.

The Colonels retook the lead for good in the top of the second with more small-ball. Wing earned a one-out walk, stole second, and scored when Champi singled to left, giving Wilkes a 2-1 advantage.

Fischer gave the Colonels an important insurance run in the top of the fourth when he singled to left, bringing home Patrizio after his double to deep right center.

Fischer finished game two 3-for-3 with one RBI to lead Wilkes at the plate. Champi (2-for-3, two RBI's) and Clymer (2-for-4) also finished with multiple hits.

The Colonels return to the field on Tuesday when they host Penn State Wilkes-Barre for a 3:00 p.m. non-conference game at Artillery Park.