WILKES-BARRE, PA – Max Alessi (Wallenpaupack, PA/Wallenpaupack) and Zack Luksic (Shavertown, PA/Dallas) combined to go 7-for-9 with six RBI's to lead the Wilkes University baseball team to a Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) road victory at cross-town rival King's College Friday. The Colonels broke a 2-1 game open with nine runs in the top of the fourth inning.

Wilkes improved its current winning streak to six games as it improved to 22-15 overall and 8-11 in the conference this season. King's dropped to 11-20 overall and 3-16 in the MAC Freedom. The Colonels 22 wins are the most for the program since the 2009 season.

Michael Patrizio (Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) set the Wilkes career stolen base record and tied the single-season stolen base record when he stole third in the fifth inning. Patrizio now stands atop the record book with 93 career stolen bases with his 31st this season.

JT Hibschman (Millville, NJ/Millville) (4-3) pitched his fourth career complete game as he went 9.0 innings to earn the win. He allowed two runs on 11 hits with one walk and six strikeouts.

The Colonels opened the scoring in the top of the first inning. AJ Brosious (Laurys Station, PA/Allentown Central Catholic) reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Luksic hit an RBI single to bring in Brosious for the 1-0 lead.

In the second Alessi reached on an error, advancing all the way to third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jason Spezzaferra (Maywood, NJ/Hackensack) to make it 2-0.

The Monarchs made it 2-1 with a sacrifice fly in the third.

Wilkes then put the game away with the nine-run fourth. Alessi hit a one-out single and then stole second. He moved to third on a Todd Kolbicka (Hanover, PA/Hanover) single. Chase Vrabel (Gibsonia, PA/Pine Richland) was then hit by a pitch to load the baes. Spezzaferra made it 3-1 with a sacrifice fly that brought in Alessi. Patrizio then loaded the bases again by reaching on a fielder's choice. Brosious then singled through the right side to bring in Kolbicka and Vrabel to make it 5-1. Brosious then stole second with a throwing error on the catcher allowing Patrizio to score from third and then a throwing error by the centerfielder allowed Brosious to also come into score to make it 7-1.

Brandon Reno (Hunlock Creek, PA/Northwest Area) started things back up for the Colonels with a single and he would score on a double by Luksic. Following a Nick Pronti (Wood-Ridge, NJ/Wood-Ridge) walk, Alessi hit a two-run double to make it 10-1. Kolbicka capped the scoring in the fourth with a single to bring in Alessi and make the score 11-1.

King's hit two doubles in the bottom of the fourth to score a run that made it 11-2.

In the sixth inning Luksic and Alessi each hit solo home runs to push the lead to 13-2. For Luksic it was his team-leading fourth home run of the season. The deep ball was the second of the year for Alessi.

Wilkes added to its lead in the eighth as Reno reached on an error and Luksic walked. Pronti then doubled both runners home to make it 15-2. Following an Alessi single, it was Vrabel who capped the day's scoring with a double to bring in Pronti.

The Colonels tied their season high with 16 runs. Alessi led the way going 4-for-5 with three RBI's and four runs scored. Luksic was 3-for-4 with three RBI's, a walk, and three runs scored. Kolbicka (2-for-4) and Patrizio (2-for-5) joined them with multi-hit games while Brosious, Pronti, and Spezzaferra all added two RBI's.

The Colonels will close out the 2022 season with a Senior Day doubleheader against King's. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. tomorrow at Bruggeworth Field.