FORT PIERCE, Fla. – The Wilkes University Baseball team came back from a 6-1 deficit to defeat Norwich University 9-6 Saturday afternoon at the Lawnwood Baseball Complex in the team's first game of their spring break trip.
 
The Colonels continue their hot start, advancing to 4-0 on the season. Norwich dropped to 0-2 on the campaign.
 
After Tegan Shortlidge (Nescopeck, PA/Berwick) pitched a three-up, three-down first frame, Chase Vrabel (Gibsonia, PA/Pine Richland) was hit by a pitch to advance Mike Show (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights) to second base in the bottom of the first. With Show in scoring position, Luke Spencer (Lehman, PA/Lake Lehman) singled through the left side to drive him home and put the Colonels up 1-0.
 
After a scoreless second and third, the Cadets answered back with a six-run top of the fourth, jumping out to a 6-1 lead.
 
Relief pitcher Ryan Sanderson (West Caldwell, NJ/James Caldwell) came on in the top of the fifth and worked a scoreless half-inning; recording a strikeout, flyout and picking a runner off at first base.

Wilkes began to chip away at Norwich's lead in the bottom of the fifth when Todd Kolbicka (Hanover Twp., PA/Hanover), Vrabel and Spencer all reached base safely to load the bases for Jimmy Brazofsky (Park Ridge, NJ/Park Ridge). The right fielder knocked in two base runners because of an error by the Cadet second baseman, bringing the Colonels within two runs.
 
Sanderson tossed another scoreless inning in the sixth, setting Wilkes up with an opportunity to knot the score up.

In the bottom of the sixth, Max Alessi (Wallenpaupack, PA/Wallenpaupack) walked and then advanced to third on a pair of passed balls. While Todd Kolbicka (Hanover Twp., PA/Hanover) successfully stole second base,  the Norwich catcher attempted to pick Alessi off but overshot the throw, allowing Alessi to cross the plate. Mi. Show ripped a double to left field to drive in Kolbicka and even the score at 6-6.
 
Sanderson continued his dominance on the bump, getting two Cadet batters to pop up before he ended the seventh with a strikeout swinging.
 
Three consecutive hit-by-pitches loaded the bases for Alessi in the bottom of the inning. The catcher hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Spencer from third to give Wilkes their first lead since the third inning. One batter later, Matthew Show (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights) hit a towering shot  to left center that sailed over the outfielders' heads and drove in Zack Luksic (Shavertown, PA/Dallas) and Brazofsky to open up a 9-6 lead.
 
Sanderson frustrated the bats of Norwich yet again in the eighth with a flyout and groundout. After a pinch hitter reached base and attempted to steal second, Alessi gunned him down from behind the plate to end the inning.
 
The Cadets hit into a groundout and struck out swinging twice in the top of the ninth to close out the 9-6 come-from-behind victory for Wilkes.
 
Sanderson (1-0) picked up the win after pitching a scoreless 5.0 innings, allowing only two hits and striking out five. Ma. Show, Mi. Show, Allessi and Spencer all drove in runs for the Blue and Gold.
 
Rile Rhodes (0-1) was charged with the loss after plunking three-straight batters in the seventh. Timber Russe recorded a one-hitter through 2.0 innings of relief pitching while shortstop Kevin Ohlsen led the team with a pair of base hits.
 
The Colonels return to the diamond on Sunday, March 3 when they take on Penn State Behrend for a 7-inning doubleheader at the Lawnwood Baseball Complex. First pitch for game one is slated for 10:00 a.m., followed by game two at approximately 12:30 p.m.