Wilkes Baseball Hangs Tough, Drops Doubleheader at Receiving Votes Stevens
HOBOKEN, N.J. – The Wilkes University Colonels traveled to face the Stevens Ducks in a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom doubleheader Saturday afternoon.
The Colonels (16-15, 4-11 MACF) hung tough against the Ducks (23-10, 10-5) but fell game one 3-1 and lost game two 9-8.
The Ducks came out swinging in game one, taking advantage of early walks with a single to right field to bring in a pair of runs for an early 2-0 lead after one.
Jason Spezzaferra (Maywood, NJ/Hackensack) brought in a run with a single in the fifth for the Colonels, but the Ducks kept their two-run lead with a wild pitch in the bottom of the fifth to take a 3-1 victory into game two.
Stevens took another early 2-0 lead after two innings, with a ground rule double in the first and a throwing error giving them the runs.
Nick Pronti (Wood-Ridge, NJ/Wood-Ridge) homered in the top of the fourth but an unearned run for Stevens kept their two-run advantage. AJ Brosius hit a three-run home run in the top of the fifth, followed by
Chase Vrabel (Gibsonia, PA/Pine Richland) making it 6-3 with a two RBI single to right center. Stevens matched the Colonels five runs with five of their own in the bottom of the fifth, including a pair of solo home runs and a pair of unearned runs.
A single home run in the sixth gave the Ducks a 9-6 advantage, but the Colonels had one last chance. A walk and a single gave
Justin Stefanowicz (Hanover Twp., PA/Hanover Area) an opportunity to clear the bases with a double to center field, giving the Colonels the tying run at second base. A fly out to left field ended the threat and game, giving Stevens a doubleheader sweep and a series victory.
JT Hibschman (Millville, NJ/Millville) threw three strikeouts in a loss game one, while the Colonels staff combined for five strikeouts in game two. Spezzaferra hit 4-of-5 between both games with an RBI.
The Colonels return to action early next week with a Monday matchup at Bruggeworth Field against Alvernia. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. in the two team's first matchup in the live stats era.
