HOBOKEN, NJ – The Wilkes University baseball team dropped both ends of a Saturday doubleheader at Dobbelaar Field as host Stevens Institute of Technology won 16-6 in game one and 5-3 in game two to open a four-game Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) series.

Wilkes fell to 2-8 in the league while Stevens improved to 9-3.

The Ducks scored two runs in the first and added another in the second to open the seven-inning game one with a 3-0 lead. Wilkes used two one-out walks by senior Vinny Bobbin (Schuylkill Haven, PA/Blue Mountain) and senior Michael Patrizio (Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) in the third inning to threaten for the first time. Senior Dominick Bayo (Swoyersville, PA/Wyoming Valley West) was then hit by a pitch to load the bases and senior Nick Pronti (Wood-Ridge, NJ/Wood-Ridge) picked up an RBI with a walk that scored Bobbin. Senior Brandon Reno (Hunlock Creek, PA/Northwest Area) then reached on a fielder's choice as he earned an RBI with Patrizio scoring to make the score 3-2 in the top of the third.

Stevens would tack on five runs on four hits and an error in the bottom of the third to take an 8-2 advantage. Wilkes answered back in the top of the fourth with three two-out runs. Senior Matt Reinert (Telford, PA/Souderton) started the rally with a double to right and then Bobbin drove him in with a double to left. Patrizio and Bayo then walked to load the bases and Pronti singled to center to bring in Bobbin and Patrizio to make the score 8-5.

The Ducks added two runs in the bottom of the fourth on a ground-rule double to stretch the lead back to five runs. Senior Nick Malatesta (Bloomsburg, PA/Bloomsburg) tripled to open the top of the fifth and scored on an RBI groundout by senior Jonah Harder (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) to make the score 10-6. Stevens closed the game by scoring four runs in the bottom of the fifth and two more in the sixth to win 16-6 as they produced 20 hits.

Pronti led Wilkes at the plate in game one with three RBIs as Partizio and Bobbin each scored twice. Junior Gage Coudriet (Philipsburg, PA/Philipsburg-Osceola) (0-1) took the loss as he went the first 2+ innings, allowing seven runs (seven earned) on nine hits with one walk and one strikeout. First-year Tim Gilhooley (Olyphant, PA/Holy Cross) made his collegiate debut, going 1.0 innings allowing one run (one earned) on one hit and two walks with one strikeout. Senior Frank Navatta (Branchburg, NJ/Somerville) also went 1.0 innings allowing two runs (two earned) on two hits and three walks. First-year Ryan Sanderson (West Caldwell, NJ/James Caldwell) pitched the final 2.0 innings allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

Eli Zuckerman (1-0) earned the victory for Stevens pitching 1.1 innings in relief. The Ducks were led at the plate by Thomas Paulich who went 4-for-5 with four runs scored and an RBI, Gannon Kenney-McGowan who went 2-for-4 with seven RBIs and four runs scored, and Chris Silos who went 3-for-4 with three RBIs.

In the nine-inning game two Wilkes took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Patrizio led off with a walk and advanced to second on a passed ball. Pronti then drove him home with a single through the left side. Junior JT Hibschman (Millville, NJ/Millville) then worked a perfect first inning on the mound for the Colonels.

Stevens would take the lead in the bottom of the third as two singles and a walk loaded the bases. Johnny Albrecht then hit a two-out grand slam to center to put the Ducks ahead 4-1. Pronti answered back with a homer to right to lead off the top of the fourth for his fifth RBI of the day. A Silos home run to center in the bottom of the frame put Stevens back ahead by three runs at 5-2.

The Colonels threatened to close the gap in the top of the seventh after singles by sophomore Darren Kerdesky (Dallas, PA/Dallas) and senior Bryan Nifenecker (Amityville, NY/St. Dominic) had runners on second and third with one out but Wilkes was unable to plate any runs. Wilkes was successful however in the eighth inning after Patrizio led off with a walk. Bayo then singled to left. Patrizio would move to third when Pronti grounded into a double play and would then score on a Reno RBI single to center to make the score 5-3.

With two outs in the ninth senior Jared Angerman (Northampton, PA/Northampton Area) walked and then Reinert was hit by a pitch which moved senior Jack Hines (Hawthorne, NJ/Hawthorne), who pinch ran for Angerman, to second. Patrizio then walked to load the bases. Anthony Pron then got out of the jam to end the game and preserve the win with a strikeout.

Pronti again led Wilkes at the plate in game two, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run. Patrizio added two more runs as he walked three times. Hibschman (1-1) took the loss going 6.0 innings, allowing five runs (five earned) on five hits and four walks with four strikeouts. Sophomore Jonathan Martens (Mt. Pocono, PA/Scranton Prep) then went 2.0 innings of no-hit, shutout ball with two walks and two strikeouts.

Roy Iversen (2-1) earned the victory for Stevens in game two as he went 6.1 innings, allowing two runs (two earned) on five hits with one walk and four strikeouts. Alex Smith bridged the gap with 1.1 innings allowing one earned run before Pron earned his third save of the year pitching the final 1.1 innings.

The two teams will conclude their four-game MAC Freedom series with a doubleheader hosted by Wilkes at Bruggeworth Field on Sunday with first pitch for game one scheduled for 12:00 p.m.