Northwestern Takes Two from Wilkes Baseball
FORT PIERCE, Fl. – The Wilkes University baseball team fell in both ends of a double header with University of Northwestern (MN) in Fort Pierce, Florida on Friday afternoon.
The Colonels are now 2-6 this season.
Northwestern got on the board in the bottom of the second with a walk, stolen base, and a two-out single to right bringing in the runner.
Wilkes took the lead in the top of the fifth with two runs on two hits and the aid of an error. Vinny Bobbin (Schuylkill Haven, PA/Blue Mountain) reached first with one out after a misplay by the Eagles shortstop and moved to second on a base hit from Brady Wing (Syracuse, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt), with Jack Hines (Hawthorne, NJ/Hawthorne) coming on as a pinch-runner for Bobbin. After Jack Fischer (River Vale, NJ/Pascack Valley) reached on a fielder's choice that erased Wing and moved Hines to third, Fischer took second on a wild pitch and both runners came in on a double over the center fielder's head off the bat of Nicholas Capozzi (Syracuse, NY/Christian Brothers Academy).
The Colonels added to their advantage in the top of the sixth after Charles Giacometti Jr. (Dallas, PA/Dallas) reached on an infield single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Jared Angerman (Northampton, PA/Northampton Area), and came in to score with two outs on an error by the shortstop off a hard-hit ball from Nick Pronti (Wood-Ridge, NJ/Wood-Ridge) to give Wilkes a 3-1 lead.
Northwestern retook the lead in the bottom of the sixth with three runs on three hits and an error.
Matthew Konikow (Mahwah, NJ/Mahwah) started game one on the hill for the Colonels, allowing one run on one hit with five walks and five strikeouts over three innings. Gage Coudriet (Philipsburg, PA/Philipsburg-Osceola) fell to 1-1 this year after surrendering three runs (one earned) on six hits with one strikeout over the final three innings.
Wing (2-for-4), Capozzi (2-for-4, two RBI's), and Giacometti (2-for-3, one run scored) led the Colonels at the plate in the first game.
In game two, Nortwestern got the scoring started in the top of the first with an unearned run, and took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third.
Wilkes tacked on four runs in the bottom of the third with four hits and one walk. Pronti led off the frame with a walk and moved to second when Angerman walked. Eric Beideman (Lansdale, PA/North Penn) pulled off a perfect slash play to move the runners to second and third before Patrizio singled to right bringing home Pronti and moving Angerman to third. Fischer stepped up next and singled to right bringing in Angerman and moving Patrizio, who stole second, over to third. Capozzi brought home Patrizio with a single to right-center that moved Fischer to third before Brandon Reno (Hunlock Creek, PA/Northwest Area) brought home Fischer with a sacrifice fly to center, giving the Colonels a 4-2 lead.
The Eagles cut the advantage to 4-3 with a run in the top of the fourth without recording a hit, and took the lead with two runs in the top of the fifth on two hits and three walks. Northwestern finished the scoring in the top of the seventh with two runs on two hits.
Wilkes loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh but was unable to push any runs across.
Jeremy Yzeik (Waymart, PA/Holy Cross) fell to 0-2 in the second game, allowing two runs over one inning.
Fischer went 2-for-4 with one run scored and one RBI while Patrizio, Capozzi, Pronti, and Giacometti all finished with one hit.
The Colonels conclude their spring break trip on Saturday with a contest against Houghton College starting at 9:30 a.m.
