AMBLER, PA – The Wilkes University baseball team scored two runs in the first and fifth innings only to have host Arcadia University respond with runs in the bottom of the inning during the Colonels 10-5 Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) loss Sunday afternoon at Skip Wilson Field.

Wilkes dropped to 7-9 overall and to 1-5 in the MAC Freedom following today's loss. Arcadia, who is receiving votes in the D3baseball.com/NBCWA Top 25 poll, improved to 9-6 overall and to 5-1 in the league.

The Colonels strung together four one-out hits in the top of the first inning to score two runs. Connor Morgan (Dallas, PA/Lake Lehman) started the stretch with a single up the middle and then advanced to second on Darren Kerdesky's (Dallas, PA/Dallas) single through the right side. AJ Brosious (Laurys Station, PA/Allentown Central Catholic) then singled to left center to move Morgan and Kerdesky ahead and load the bases. Mike Show (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights) singled to right field to drive in Morgan and Kerdesky with two RBI's to give Wilkes the 2-0 lead.

The Knights answered quickly with six runs on three hits, one error and five walks in the bottom of the first to go ahead 6-2.

Wilkes cut the lead in half in the top of the fifth as Todd Kolbicka (Hanover Twp., PA/Hanover) singled up the middle to lead off the inning. He moved to second on Morgan's knock to left center. Both runners advanced a base on a groundout by Kerdesky and then Brosious drove them in with a two-run single up the middle to make it 6-4.

Arcadia responded again in the bottom of the frame with three runs on two hits and an error to increase the lead to 9-4. The Knights added an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh.

Ryan Johnston (Garden City, NY/Chaminade) hit a pinch hit home run in the top of the ninth to finish the scoring. It was the first career home run for the first year Johnston.

Ethan Fuller (Smyrna, GA/Campbell) (0-1) took the loss as he started and went 0.2 innings allowing four runs on one hit and four walks. Ryan Sanderson (West Caldwell, NJ/James Caldwell) pitched the next 4.1 innings allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits and two walks. Tyler Hoedl (Wilkes-Barre, PA/Holy Redeemer) finished the final 3.0 innings as he allowed one run (zero earned) on two hits and two walks with four strikeouts.

Trevor Laraia started and went 4.0 innings for Arcadia in the no-decision. He allowed two runs on five hits with one walk and three strikeouts. After Jason Pace gave up two runs on three hits in 0.1 innings, Koby Staivecki (1-0) earned the win as he pitched 2.2 innings allowing just one hit with three strikeouts. Mitch Whitney pitched a scoreless innings and Will Conroy gave up the home run to Johnston but also had three strikeouts in the ninth.

Morgan was 3-for-5 with two runs at the plate for Wilkes. Kolbicka went 2-for-4 and 2-for-5 with two RBI's as that trio combined for seven of the Colonel's 11 hits.

Wilkes is set to host Stevenson University on Tuesday in non-conference action at Bruggeworth Field with first pitch slated for 3:30 p.m.