EDWARDSVILLE – The Wilkes University baseball team defeated Albright College 8-3 in game one of a scheduled non-conference doubleheader at a cold and snowy Bruggeworth Field Sunday. Game two was suspended in the top of the fifth inning with Albright leading 1-0 as the green Bruggeworth Field turf turned to white with a heavy snow squall.

Wilkes improved to 8-1 overall with the victory in game one. Alright dropped to 2-2 overall. The resumption of game two will be scheduled for later in the season.

Game one started at 12:45 p.m. following a 45 minute delay due to a heavy sleet that moved in near the end of warmups.

The Colonels scored first as Luke Spencer (Lehman, PA/Lake Lehman) drew a one-out walk. He advanced all the way to third on an error when the pitcher threw a pickoff attempt wild past first base. Mike Show (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights) then drove in Spencer with a sacrifice fly to center to make it 1-0.

After a brief delay due to another rain and sleet shower before the second inning action resumed. Wilkes added a run in the bottom of the second when Jacob Cambria (Elysburg, PA/Southern Columbia) reached on a two-out error by the second baseman. Cambria then stole second and Evan Melberger (West Pittston, PA/Wyoming Area) knocked him across the plate with a single to right to make it 2-0.

Spencer led off the bottom of the third with a double. He advanced to third on a fly out to right by Mi. Show and then scored on a Chase Vrabel (Gibsonia, PA/Pine Richland) single up the middle. Zack Luksic (Shavertown, PA/Dallas) then brought in Vrabel from first on a double to right center to make it 4-0 as Luksic was out trying to stretch the play into a triple.

The Lions got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth using a triple and RBI groundout followed by a double and an infield single in the hole to shortstop to make it 4-2.

Ryan Cosby (Buford, GA/Mountain View (GA)), Cambria,and Melberger all reached on Albright errors to begin the bottom of the fourth. Cosby then scored when Matthew Show (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights) picked up an RBI with a hit by pitch. Mi. Show then brought in Cambria with a sacrifice fly to right. Melberger scored when he and Ma. Show executed a double steal of home and second as Wilkes took a 7-2 lead into the fifth.

Alright pulled one run back in the top of the fifth as they had a runner reach on an error, move to second on a groundout and third on a wild pitch. He then scored on an RBI single through the right side to make it 7-3.

Jimmy Brazofsky (Park Ridge, NJ/Park Ridge) led off the bottom of the fifth with a single and then stole second. He moved to third on a hard-hit single by Luksic to left. Brazofsky scored on an RBI groundout by Cambria to make the score 8-3.

With two outs in the top of the ninth a heavy snow started falling forcing the teams to the dugouts for a short delay. After the delay, Storm was able to get a strikeout with the bases loaded to end the game.

Zachary Lloyd (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) (2-0) went 6.0 innings allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits with one walk and three strikeouts in the quality start to earn the win. Daniel Storm (Wilmington, DE/Archmere Academy) earned his first save as he pitched the final 3.0 innings scoreless as he allowed two hits and three walks with four strikeouts.

Lucas Williams (0-1) took the loss as he went 3.2 innings allowing seven runs (two earned) on four hits with one walk and six strikeouts. Josh Tudor pitched the next 2.1 innings for the Lions allowing one run on two hits. Hayden Paukstis pitched the final 2.0 innings allowing three hits with one strikeout.

Vrabel was 2-for-3 with one RBI, Luksic went 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Mi. Show added two RBIs to lead the Wilkes offense in game one.

Game two went scoreless through three innings before Albright scored to take a 1-0 lead in the top fourth. The Lions scored the run on an RBI groundout following a double and sacrifice bunt.

In the top of the fifth another snow shower was heavy enough to force the teams to the dugout again and then persisted for the next several minutes as the snow covered the turf and forced the suspension of the game.

Tegan Shortlidge (Nescopeck, PA/Berwick) started and pitched the first 4.0 innings as he allowed one run on four hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Wilton Abreu (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic/Liceo Americo Pérez Tolentino) came on to pitch the fifth inning and allowed a walk as the snow picked up before the stoppage.

John O'Connor pitched all four innings for the Lions in shutout fashion. He allowed three hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

The Colonels continue non-conference play to open the season on Wednesday when they host Elmira College at Bruggeworth Field with first pitch scheduled for 3:30 p.m.