WAYNE, NJ – The Wilkes University baseball team rallied from eight runs down to force extra innings before dropping a 10-9 decision to host William Paterson Tuesday at Jeff Albies Field in non-conference action.

With the loss Wilkes dropped to 15-12 overall on the season while William Paterson improved to 17-9 overall.

The Colonels took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth. AJ Brosious (Laurys Station, PA/Allentown Central Catholic) led off with a single and then stole second. He advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Peyton Schuck (Penn Yan, NY/Penn Yan Academy). Chase Vrabel (Gibsonia, PA/Pine Richland) then brought in Brosious with a two-out single to left.

William Paterson went ahead with a nine-run fifth inning with six hits and was helped by a Colonels error, two walks, and a hit by pitch.

Wilkes began its comeback in the sixth as Brosious tripled and then scored on a Schuck RBI groundout to make it 9-2. Michael Patrizio (Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) tripled in the seventh and scored on another RBI groundout, this time by Sean Granahan (Pottstown, PA/Wilson West Lawn) as Wilkes made it 9-3.

The Colonels roared all the way back with six more runs in the eighth inning to tie the game at 9-9. Zack Luksic (Shavertown, PA/Dallas) led off with a double and then Jimmy Brazofsky (Park Ridge, NJ/Park Ridge) was hit by a pitch. Schuck then singled to load the bases. Todd Kolbicka (Hanover, PA/Hanover) then reached base and Luksic scored on a throwing error by the pitcher. Vrabel then made it 9-5 as he reached on a fielder's choice with Brazofsky scoring and Kolbicka out at second. Patrizio then doubled to bring home Schuck and move Vrabel to third. Pinch hitter Rocky DiBernardo (Gainesville, FL/Oak Hall School) then doubled to plate both Vrabel and Patrizio to make it 9-8. Granahan completed the comeback bringing in DiBernardo with a single through the left side.

The Colonels were able to get runners on in the ninth and one in the tenth but were unable to take the lead. The Pioneers then scored in the bottom of the tenth using a leadoff error by Wilkes, then a sacrifice bunt, fly out to move the runner to third and a two-out single to win 10-9.

Tyler Hoedl (Wilkes-Barre, PA/Holy Redeemer) (1-1) pitched stellarly in relief but took the hard luck loss. The first-year pitcher went 5.0 innings allowing just two hits and three walks with three strikeouts while only allowing an unearned run. Sophomore Ryan Sanderson (West Caldwell, NJ/James Caldwell) made his first collegiate start, going the first 4.2 innings. He allowed nine runs (two earned) on eight hits with five walks and a strikeout.

Five William Paterson pitchers combined to allow nine runs (eight earned) on 16 Colonels hits. Jordan Manne (2-1) earned the win pitching a scoreless final two innings.

Four Colonels had multiple hits in the game. Patrizio went 4-for-6 with an RBI while Granahan was 3-for-6 with two RBI's. Brosious was 3-for-3 and Schuck went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

The Colonels return to action tomorrow with another non-conference game this time hosting the University of Scranton at Bruggeworth Field. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.