EDWARDSVILLE – The Wilkes University baseball team erased an eight-run deficit led by a Connor Morgan (Dallas, PA/Lake Lehman) go-ahead two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh as the Colonels defeated FDU-Florham 14-13 in a Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) game on a rainy Friday at Bruggeworth Field which also marked Senior Day.

Wilkes improved to 15-23 overall and 9-13 in the MAC Freedom with the victory which keeps the Colonels squarely in the race for the fifth seed in the upcoming conference tournament. FDU-Florham is now 7-30 and 4-18 in the league with the loss.

The Devils had a strong top of the first inning earning four runs on five singles, one hit batter, and one walk. A double play with the bases loaded hit to first baseman Chase Vrabel (Gibsonia, PA/Pine Richland) who threw home to catcher Zack Luksic (Shavertown, PA/Dallas) and back to Vrabel covering at first got the Colonels out of the jam but FDU-Florham built a 4-0 lead.

FDU-Florham scored two more runs in the top of the second inning as they used a double, throwing error, hit by pitch, sacrifice bunt squeeze, and a single to lead 6-0.

The Colonels answered in the bottom of the second with one run. Luksic hit a single to left and advanced to second on a balk. He moved to third on a single to right by Vrabel. Jake Cambria (Elysburg, PA/Southern Columbia) would bring in Luksic with a sacrifice fly to right field as Luksic slid under the catcher's tag attempt at the plate.

Wilkes loaded the bases in the bottom of the third with no outs as Todd Kolbicka (Hanover Twp., PA/Hanover) singled up the middle, Morgan singled to right, and Darren Kerdesky (Dallas, PA/Dallas) singled to second base. Mike Show (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights) then walked to pick up an RBI as Kolbicka scored. Luksic followed with a sacrifice fly on a line drive to left field to bring in Morgan to make it 6-3.

The Devils answered back with four runs on three hits and three walks in the top of the fourth to take a 10-3 lead. In the bottom of the fifth FDU-Florham used a double, wild pitch, walk and sacrifice fly to add one more run and lead 11-3.

The Colonels loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth as Morgan was hit by a pitch followed by two outs. Luksic then reached on a fielder's choice as Morgan beat the shortstop's throw to second after he made a driving play in the hole. Max Alessi (Wallenpaupack, PA/Wallenpaupack) then walked as a pinch hitter. Vrabel followed with a bases clearing double to right center as Morgan, Luksic, and Alessi all scored to make it 11-6 and chase the Devils starter from the mound. Camrbia followed with a walk and then a wild pitch moved the runners ahead before a Jason Spezzaferra (Maywood, NJ/Hackensack) single through the right side scored two more as Vrabel and Camrbia scored to make it 11-8.

In the bottom of the sixth Wilkes again loaded the bases as Morgan and Show singled up the middle and Luksic was hit by a pitch to force a pitching change. Alessi followed with a three-run triple over the center fielder's head to clear the bases as Morgan, Show, and Luksic scored to tie the game at 11-11. Following a Vrabel walk, Cambria hit a sacrifice fly to right field for the go-ahead run as Alessi scored to make it 12-11.

The Devils answered back in the top of the seventh using a two-out hit by pitch, single and double to score two runs to take a 13-12 lead.

Following a walk by Kolbicka to begin the bottom of the seventh, Morgan crushed his first career home run to left field to put Wilkes back ahead 14-13.

Tony Molitoris (Hanover Twp., PA/Holy Redeemer) started for the Colonels on the mound. He went 1.1 innings allowing six runs on six hits with one walk in a no decision. Ryan Sanderson (West Caldwell, NJ/James Caldwell) pitched the next 2.1 innings allowing four runs on five hits with two walks and one strikeout. Griffin Coyne (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom) came in next and pitched 2.1 innings allowing one run on two hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Sawyer Kemp (Nescopeck, PA/Berwick) (3-5) pitched 2.0 innings allowing two runs on two hits with two strikeouts as he earned the victory. Show came in to close the game in the ninth as he earned his fifth save of the season as he got two groundouts and finished the game with a strikeout of the final batter.

Jonathan Rodenhaver started for FDU-Florham and went 4.2 innings allowing seven runs on eight hits with three walks and one strikeout in a no decision. Eli Gonzalez would pitch 0.2 innings allowing four runs on three hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Jake Rivera (1-2) then pitched 1.1 innings allowing three runs on three hits with two walks and one strikeout as he took the loss. Michael Dunay pitched the final 1.1 innings for the Devils allowing just one walk.

Morgan went 3-for-4 with two RBI's and four runs scored on the day. Spezzaferra was 3-for-5 with two RBI's and a double. Vrabel was 2-for-3 with three RBI's and a double while Luksic went 2-for-3 with a double, one RBI, and three runs. Kolbicka was 2-for-5 with two runs and Alessi was 1-for-1 with a triple and three RBI's. Kerdesky and Show each had one hit while Cambria added two RBI's.

Wilkes recognized nine of its seniors, Alessi, Kerdesky, Spezzaferra, Kemp, AJ Brosious (Laurys Station, PA/Allentown Central Catholic), Alexis Velez (Caguas, PR/Notre Dame), Peyton Schuck (Penn Yan, NY/Penn Yan Academy), Jonathan Martens (Mt. Pocono, PA/Scranton Prep), and Jack Gordon (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) with a Senior Day ceremony prior to the game.

The Colonels and Devils are scheduled to complete the regular season within the MAC Freedom with a doubleheader at FDU-Florham in Madison, N.J. on Sunday starting at 11:00 a.m.