Wilkes Baseball Outlasts Muhlenberg in 15-9 Slugfest
KINGSTON – The Wilkes University baseball team scored six runs in the third, three runs in the fifth, and four runs in the seventh en route to a 15-9 victory over Muhlenberg College in non-conference action on Wednesday afternoon from Artillery Park.
The Colonels improved to 4-9 this season.
Muhlenberg started the scoring in the top of the first on two hits.
Wilkes tied the score in the bottom of the frame on Vincent Uzzi's (Shoreham, NY/Shoreham-Wading River) run-scoring single to centerfield, scoring Jack Fischer (River Vale, NJ/Pascack Valley), who reached on a walk and advanced to second on a Nicholas Capozzi (Syracuse, NY/Christian Brothers Academy) walk.
The Mules retook the lead at 3-1 following a two-run home run in the top of the second, and added two more runs in the top of the third on three hits.
The Colonels exploded for six runs in the bottom of the third. The big hit came off the bat of Nick Pronti (Wood-Ridge, NJ/Wood-Ridge) once again, as he lined a two-run double down the left field line as Wilkes took a 7-5 lead.
Wilkes added its eighth run in the bottom of the fourth when Uzzi brought home Capozzi with a sacrifice fly to right after Capozzi reached with a leadoff single, moved to second on a passed ball, and reached third on a groundout.
Brady Wing (Syracuse, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt) brought home the Colonels ninth run on a ground out that scored Jonah Harder (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool), and Capozzi launched a two-run homer to left bringing in Matt Reinert (Telford, PA/Souderton) as Wilkes increased its lead to 11-5 in the bottom of the fifth.
The run parade continued for the Colonels in the bottom of the seventh as the team needed only two hits to plate four runs, including three walks and a hit-by-pitch to reach a 15-5 advantage.
Muhlenberg attempted a comeback with one run in the top of the eighth and three runs in the top of the ninth, but Wilkes was able to shut the door.
Frank Navatta (Branchburg, NJ/Somerville) earned his first win, tossing 4.0 innings of relief, allowing zero runs on two hits with one strikeout and zero walks.
Capozzi and Uzzi both finished the game a perfect 3-for-3, with Capozzi adding two RBI's and three runs scored while Uzzi drove in four runs and scored two. Nick Malatesta (Bloomsburg, PA/Bloomsburg) went 3-for-4 with one run scored while Pronti was 2-for-4 with three RBI's and one run scored.
The Colonels return to action on Friday when they travel to Eastern University for a 3:30 p.m. Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) game.
