MADISON, N.J.  – The Wilkes University baseball squad returned to Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom play Friday afternoon with the first of a three-game series against the FDU-Florham Devils.
 
The Colonels (11-8, 0-7) fell just short of the Devils (15-5, 6-1) in a 6-5 back and forth affair.
 
The Devils struck first, an RBI double and a home run in the first inning followed by a sacrifice bunt in the second giving them an early 3-0 lead after two.  The Colonels grabbed back two runs in the fourth, with Dominick Bayo (Swoyersville, PA/Wyoming Valley West) hitting an RBI double to center field followed by Brandon Reno (Hunlock Creek, PA/Northwest Area) bringing them home with a fielder's choice RBI.  The Devils would reply with a home run in the fifth to make it 4-2 once more, but Reno responded with a solo home run in the sixth followed by Max Alessi (Wallenpaupack, PA/Wallenpaupack) tying the game at four all with an RBI double.
 
Nick Pronti (Wood-Ridge, NJ/Wood-Ridge) would double in the seventh to give the Colonels their first lead of the afternoon with an RBI double, but the Devils found the runs they needed in the eighth inning.  A single to center and a sacrifice bunt gave FDU-Florham a 6-5 lead, and the Colonels offense sputtered after putting runners on first and third with no outs in the ninth to be unable to extend the game.
 
JT Hibschman (Millville, NJ/Millville) threw seven innings and seven strikeouts in the start.  Sean Wodell earned the win for the Devils, while Colby Craig earned the save. Pronti hit three for four with one RBI and a walk, while Michael Patrizio (Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) hit three for five.  The Colonels have lost their seven conference games by a combined total of 10 runs.
 
The Colonels look to bounce back from their defeat with a doubleheader against FDU-Florham tomorrow at Bruggeworth Field to wrap up the three-game series.  First pitch is scheduled for noon.