AMBLER, PA – The Wilkes University baseball team was swept during a tightly contested Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) doubleheader at Skip Wilson Field Saturday by host Arcadia University. The Knights took game one 6-5 before winning game two 2-1.

Wilkes is now 11-7 overall and 0-6 in the MAC Freedom after suffering three one-run losses to Arcadia. Arcadia, who is receiving votes in the latest national top 25 poll, is now 17-3 overall and 6-0 in the league.

Arcadia took the lead in game one with two runs on one hit and two errors in the bottom of the second inning.

Wilkes responded in the top of the third with three runs to take the lead. Dominick Bayo (Swoyersville, PA/Wyoming Valley West) led off with a walk and then went to second on a single by Nick Pronti (Wood-Ridge, NJ/Wood-Ridge). Brandon Reno (Hunlock Creek, PA/Northwest Area) then loaded the bases with a bunt single. AJ Brosious (Laurys Station, PA/Allentown Central Catholic) then doubled to center to bring in Bayo and Pronti. Reno then scored from third on an error by the third baseman on a ball hit by Max Alessi (Wallenpaupack, PA/Wallenpaupack).

The Knights would tie the game in the bottom of the third with one run on two hits.

The game remained tied 3-3 until the top of the seventh. Reno singled to start the inning and forced the Knights starting pitcher from the game. Brosious then laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Reno to second. After an intentional walk to Zack Luksic (Shavertown, PA/Dallas) and a strikeout, Connor Morgan (Dallas, PA/Lake Lehman) came up with a two-out double to deep right field to bring in Reno and pinch runner Rocky DiBernardo (Gainesville, FL/Oak Hall School) to give Wilkes the 5-3 lead.

Arcadia answered in the bottom half of the inning, tying the game on a Connor Cheeseman two-run single and then walking off on a Zachary Sekelick single to win 6-5.

Nate Jaslar (Hanover, PA/Hanover) (0-2) took the loss and a blown save for the Colonels. JT Hibschman (Millville, NJ/Millville) pitched 6.0 innings in the start allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits with four walks and six strikeouts.

Pronti, Reno, Brosiuous, and Morgan all collected two hits for the Colonels in game one.

Nick Fossile pitched 6-plus innings in the start for Arcadia, allowing four runs (three earned) on 10 hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Owen Margolis (5-0) earned the win with 1.0 innings pitched, allowing one run on one hit with a walk and a strikeout.

In game two, Arcadia took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second on a Sekelick RBI single.

In the top of the third Wilkes tied the game as Chase Vrabel (Gibsonia, PA/Pine Richland) led off with a double down the right field line. Michael Patrizio (Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) then moved him to third with a sacrifice bunt and Vrabel would score on an RBI groundout to shortstop by Bayo.

Sekelick would double to leadoff the bottom of the fifth for the Knights and then proceed to score following a balk and a passed ball to put Arcadia up for good 2-1.

Aiden Murphy (Mountain Top, PA/Wyoming Seminary) (2-2) took the loss as he went 5.0 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) with only two hits and two walks while striking out eight Arcadia batters. Sawyer Kemp (Nescopeck, PA/Berwick) pitched the sixth inning with one strikeout.

Patrizio, Reno, Luksic, and Vrabel each had one hit for the Colonels in game two.

Hunter Sibley received a no decision as he started and went 4.0 innings for Arcadia, allowing one run on two hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Zach Steiger got one out in the fifth allowing a hit and a walk and then Carson Denham (2-0) earned the win as he pitched the final 2.2 innings, allowing just one hit with four strikeouts.

Wilkes returns to the field on Tuesday for a non-conference game against Penn State Wilkes-Barre with first pitch scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Bruggeworth Field.