FORT PIERCE, FL – The Wilkes University baseball team split a doubleheader on Thursday against Marywood University. The Colonels won game one 4-3 to move to 8-0 before falling for the first time this season 11-5 in game two.

Wilkes now stands at 8-1 on the 2022 season. The 8-0 start was the best for Wilkes in the live stats era dating back to at least 2009. Marywood is now 5-3 overall after the split.

Wilkes began game one with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Michael Patrizio (Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) led off with a walk and moved to second with a single to shortstop by Dominick Bayo (Swoyersville, PA/Wyoming Valley West). Nick Pronti (Wood-Ridge, NJ/Wood-Ridge) then doubled to score Patrizio and moved Bayo to third.  Bayo would then score with one out on a wild pitch.

The Pacers tied the game in the top of the second on one hit, two walks, and an error.

The Colonels went back ahead in the bottom of the second as Max Alessi (Wallenpaupack, PA/Wallenpaupack) reached on a hit by pitch and then advanced to second on a passed ball. With two outs Patrizio then drove in Alessi with a knock to center to make it 3-2.

Starter JT Hibschman (Millville, NJ/Millville) then worked out of a bases-loaded no outs jam in the top of the fifth as he was able to get a fielder's choice and then two strikeouts.

Patrizio led off the bottom of the fifth with a walk and moved to second on a Bayo groundout. The senior then stole third and scored on a Pronti RBI single to left center, making it 4-2 Colonels.

Mike Show (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights) pitched a scoreless sixth and Nate Jaslar (Hanover, PA/Hanover) earned his first career save as he allowed a leadoff double which would score on a one-out single but was able to strikeout the final two batters to nail down the one-run victory.

Hibschman (2-0) earned the win as he went 5.0 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits with four walks and four strikeouts.

Pronti went 2-for-3 with two RBI's while Patrizio was 1-for-1 with an RBI, two runs, and two walks.

Marywood took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning of game two. Wilkes tied the game in the top of the second as AJ Brosious (Laurys Station, PA/Allentown Central Catholic) came in to score on a bases loaded hit by pitch from Patrizio.

Wilkes took the lead in the top of the third as Pronti led off with a double. Brandon Reno (Hunlock Creek, PA/Northwest Area) walked and both runners moved up a base on a Brosious groundout. Zack Luksic (Shavertown, PA/Dallas) then singled on a line drive to center to score both Pronti and Reno. A Peyton Schuck (Penn Yan, NY/Penn Yan Academy) single to second moved Luksic to third where he would then score from as Schuck stole second to make the score 4-1.

The Pacers made the score 4-2 in the bottom of the third with one run on two hits. A leadoff triple would score on a wild pitch in the fourth as Marywood drew within one run. Marywood poured it on in the fifth inning, scoring five runs to take an 8-4 lead.

Wilkes got a run back in the top of the sixth when Bayo singled to left to bring in Chase Vrabel (Gibsonia, PA/Pine Richland) who had earlier singled. But Marywood added three more runs in the bottom of the frame to take an 11-5 lead into the seventh where the Colonels were retired in order.

Schuck was the lone Colonel with two hits in game two as he was 2-for-2 with a walk and was 1-for-4 with two RBI's.

Tony Molitoris (Hanover Twp., PA/Holy Redeemer) started and went 3.0 innings, allowing two runs on five hits. Ryan Sanderson (West Caldwell, NJ/James Caldwell) pitched the fourth inning, allowing one run on one hit. Jonathan Martens (Mt. Pocono, PA/Scranton Prep) (0-1) took the loss as he allowed three runs and Tyler Hoedl (Wilkes-Barre, PA/Holy Redeemer) pitched the final 2.0 innings, allowing five runs on five hits.

The Colonels return to the field tomorrow to face Drew University at 12:30 p.m. The Colonels defeated the Rangers 11-5 on a ninth inning comeback on Monday.