Wilkes Baseball Falters in MAC Freedom Doubleheader against Misericordia
SCRANTON, Pa. – The Wilkes University baseball team opened Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) play on Saturday afternoon, falling in both ends of its doubleheader with Misericordia by 5-1 and 5-3 finals, respectively, at Charles J. Volpe Field on the campus of the University of Scranton.
The Colonels stand at 0-2 in conference and 2-9 overall.
Wilkes started the scoring in the top of the first in game one when Charles Giacometti Jr. (Dallas, PA/Dallas) reached on an error by the shortstop, bringing in Nicholas Capozzi (Syracuse, NY/Christian Brothers Academy) after Capozzi laced a two-out single to center and moved to second when Brandon Reno (Hunlock Creek, PA/Northwest Area) was hit by a pitch.
Misericordia responded with two runs in the bottom of the first, and finished the scoring with three runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Noah Durnin (Bath, PA/Northampton) fell to 0-2 this season in game one, pitching the first five innings while allowing four runs on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
Michael Patrizio (Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery), Capozzi, Nick Pronti (Wood-Ridge, NJ/Wood-Ridge), Bryan Nifenecker (Amityville, NY/St. Dominic), and Matt Reinert (Telford, PA/Souderton) all finished with one hit to pace the offense.
In the nightcap, the Cougars crossed the plate twice in the bottom of the second to open the scoring on two hits and the aid of a Colonel error.
Wilkes cut the deficit to 2-1 in the top of the third when Patrizio doubled down the right field line to lead off the inning and came around to score on Jack Fischer's (River Vale, NJ/Pascack Valley) single up the middle. The Colonels loaded the bases with no outs after Capozzi followed Fischer with a walk and Reno reached on an infield single, but two strikeouts, and a fielder's choice out at the plate ended the rally.
Misericordia increased its lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth on two hits and a sacrifice bunt.
Wilkes tied the score in the top of the sixth on a pinch-hit two-run single from Nifenecker that scored Brady Wing (Syracuse, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt) and Giacometti. Giacometti led off the inning with a single to center and moved to second on an infield single off Wing's bat. After Pronti moved both runners with a sacrifice bunt, Nifenecker came through with the left-handers single to left, and was promptly pinch-run for by Jack Hines (Hawthorne, NJ/Hawthorne) who stole second and third but the Colonels were unable to get him home as the inning came to a close.
The Cougars retook the lead in the bottom of the inning with two runs on three walks and an infield single to complete the scoring.
Jeremy Yzeik (Waymart, PA/Holy Cross) took the defeat in the second game, allowing two runs on one hit with four walks and one strikeout. JT Hibschman (Millville, NJ/Millville) started the late game, allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits with one walk and two strikeouts over 4.1 innings.
Fischer led the hitters in game two, finishing 2-for-4 with one RBI. Seven other Colonels knocked at least one hit.
Wilkes completes its first MAC Freedom series of the season when it returns to Volpe Field on Sunday for the single nine-inning game, with first pitch against Misericordia scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
