FORT PIERCE, FL – The Wilkes University baseball team concluded its Spring Break Trip to Florida with a 14-4 victory over Messiah University on Saturday morning. The Colonels used 13 hits including a grand slam by Darren Kerdesky (Dallas, PA/Dallas) on offense and strong pitching by four players to secure the win.

Wilkes improved to 10-1 overall on the season and finished its Spring Break Trip with an 8-1 mark. Messiah dropped to 8-6 overall with the loss.

The Colonels started the scoring in the top of the second as Zack Luksic (Shavertown, PA/Dallas) doubled in Kerdesky who had led off the inning with a walk. Chase Vrabel (Gibsonia, PA/Pine Richland) then tripled to right to score Luksic and would later score on a wild pitch to make it 3-0.

The Falcons scored one unearned run in the bottom of the second to make the score 3-1. In the top of the fourth Wilkes added two more runs. Connor Morgan (Dallas, PA/Lake Lehman) walked and would come in to score on a sacrifice fly by Jason Spezzaferra (Maywood, NJ/Hackensack). Todd Kolbicka (Hanover, PA/Hanover), who had singled, would later score from third on a single to right by Dominick Bayo (Swoyersville, PA/Wyoming Valley West).

Kerdesky singled and Luksic walked in the fifth with both coming in to score on a Kolbicka two-run double to right. Spezzaferra then brought in Kolbicka with an RBI single to left to make the score 8-1.

Michael Patrizio (Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) reached in the sixth on a leadoff error and would then score on a single to center by AJ Brosious (Laurys Station, PA/Allentown Central Catholic). Bayo, who had singled, would then score on a single to left by Luksic as Wilkes went up 10-1.

Messiah tacked on another unearned run in the bottom of the sixth. In the top of the seventh, Kerdesky hit a grand slam over the right field fence to make it 14-2. Spezzaferra (walk), Patrizio (single), and Rob Iacono (Wantagh, NY/MacArthur) (fielder's choice) scored on the play.

The Falcons added two runs on two hits in the eighth to make it 14-4.

Gage Coudriet (Philipsburg, PA/Philipsburg-Osceola) started on the mound for the Colonels and got a no decision as he pitched the first four innings, allowing one run (zero earned) on four hits. Tegan Shortlidge (Berwick, PA/Berwick) (2-0) pitched the next three innings to earn the win as he allowed one run (zero earned) on two hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Jack Gordon (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) pitched the eighth allowing two runs on two hits with a strikeout and Ryan Sanderson (West Caldwell, NJ/James Caldwell) threw a scoreless ninth allowing just a hit.

Kerdesky went 2-for-4 with four RBI's and three runs scored on the day. Luksic and Kolbicka were 2-for-4 with two RBI's and two runs. Patrizio and Bayo also had two hits for the Colonels.

Wilkes will now return home and host Misericordia University at Bruggeworth Field to start Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom play next Friday at 3:30 p.m.