Wilkes Baseball Returns to Winning Ways with Monday Morning Victory Over Albright
FORT PIERCE, FL. – Wilkes University baseball took to the diamond for day two of Florida Coast Spring Training on Monday morning, defeating Albright College, 7-3.
With the win, the Colonels improve their early season record to 2-3, while Albright falls to 2-1. Wilkes moves to 1-2 in their spring break trip.
Albright took an early two-run lead in the top of the first when Anthony Knight tacked a 2-0 lead on the board with a two-run single to right field.
In the bottom of the second, the Colonels answered back with a big four-run inning. Jacob Cambria (Elysburg, PA/Southern Columbia) walked, driving in Matthew Show (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights), making it a 2-1 ballgame.
A few pitches later, Nathan Loch (Effort, PA/Pleasant Valley) was drilled, with Jack Veith (Franklin, NJ/Wallkill Valley) crossing home plate for the tying run.
Following the tying run, Jack Smale (Kunkletown, PA/Pleasant Valley) hit a sacrifice fly to left field. Mark Nazar (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights) scored to give the Colonels a 3-2 lead.
From there, Wilkes would lead for the rest of the game. Devin Markert (Pittston, PA/Pittston Area) was hit by a pitch as well.
Cambria scored from third as Albright allowed three runs in the second inning with the bases loaded.
Later on in the fourth, the Lions made it a one-run game with an RBI single from Nathan Golden.
The bottom of the fifth saw Wilkes tack on two more runs. Show tripled to right to drive in Markert, followed by an RBI single from Vieth to re-establish the multi-run lead. Smale drove in Wilkes' seventh run of the day with a sac-fly to center to make it a 7-3 contest.
For the Colonels, Lloyd pitched 5.2 innings, allowing three runs, striking out three batters and walking three. Shaun O'Donnell (New Tripoli, PA/Northwestern Lehigh) bounced back and recorded a hold, striking out two in an inning of work.
Wilton Abreu (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic/Liceo Americo Pérez Tolentino) earned his first collegiate save for the Colonels with a perfect 2.1 innings of work, sending three down on strikes.
Albright's pitching staff combined for three strikeouts, with Conner Lane notching two. Ryan Hardisky was given the loss. Wayne Hudson went over three innings on the mound, striking out one, finishing as the only Lion pitcher to not give up a free base.
After an off day tomorrow, Wilkes continues play in Fort Pierce on Wednesday, March 4 when they face Lebanon Valley at 11 a.m. from the Lawnwood Baseball Complex.
