Late Runs the Difference as Wilkes Baseball Drops Contest at FDU-Florham
FLEMINGTON, N.J. – Holding a 5-3 lead and needing nine outs, the Wilkes University baseball team surrendered three runs over the final innings to drop a Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) contest at FDU-Florham on Thursday evening, played at Diamond Nation in New Jersey.
The Colonels fell to 7-12 in league play and 14-19 overall.
Wilkes opened the scoring in the top of the first on an RBI double from Nicholas Capozzi (Syracuse, NY/Christian Brothers Academy) that brought home Jack Fischer (River Vale, NJ/Pascack Valley), who walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch.
FDU-Florham took the lead in the bottom of the first with three runs.
The Colonels tied the game in the top of the second. Brady Wing (Syracuse, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt) led off with a walk and moved to second on a ground out before advancing to third on a single from Jorge Gonzalez (Reading, PA/Conrad Weiser). After Gonzalez stole second, Michael Patrizio (Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) singled to bring in Wing and move Gonzalez to third before Patrizio proceeded to steal second. Fischer then brought in Gonzalez with a ground ball up the middle.
Wilkes took the lead in the top of the fourth when Vinny Bobbin (Schuylkill Haven, PA/Blue Mountain) led off with a double down the left field line and came around on a double down the right field line from Patrizio. The Colonels made the score 5-3 in the top of the sixth on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Gonzalez, scoring Wing who led off with a single and stole both second and third.
Wilkes was unable to keep the lead, as the Devils plated two runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the score, and one in the eighth to take the lead.
Colin Smith (Purdys, NY/Somers) suffered his first defeat of the season, allowing one run on two hits over 1.1 innings with one strikeout. JT Hibschman (Millville, NJ/Millville) started on the mound for the Colonels, surrendering three runs on five hits with five walks and five strikeouts over six innings.
Patrizio finished 2-for-5 with two RBI's while Capozzi went 2-for-4 with one RBI to lead Wilkes at the plate.
The Colonels return to action on Saturday when they will host FDU-Florham for a 1:00 p.m. MAC Freedom doubleheader. Prior to the game, the seniors who will be playing in their final regular-season home games will be honored with a ceremony.
