HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The Wilkes University baseball team completed their fourth series sweep in Landmark Conference play Sunday afternoon, as they defeated Juniata College 13-10 at Langdon-Goodale Field.

Wilkes improves to 21-11 (16-3 Landmark) with the win, while Juniata falls to 9-23 (3-17 Landmark). Wilkes has now achieved 20+ wins in every season under head coach Mike Guy.

The Colonels raced out to an early lead, plating five runs in the top of the first. Andres Cruz (Wayne, PA/Radnor) continued his spectacular form with an RBI single through the right side that drove home Evan Melberger (West Pittston, PA/Wyoming Area). In the next at-bat, Jake Miller (Chambersburg, PA/James Buchanan) drove in another with a single of his own. Tyler Uram (Carbondale Twp, PA/Lakeland) then made it three RBI singles in a row with a hit to left field. With the bases loaded, Nathan Loch's (Effort, PA/Pleasant Valley) single to right field drove in two more runs to put the Colonels ahead 5-0.

Juniata got on the board in the bottom of the second with an RBI single of their own, before Miller restored the five-run advantage in the top of the fourth with a single through the right side.

Miller's hit began a three-inning slugfest, as both offenses began trading blows. In the bottom half of the frame, Juniata scored on a sacrifice fly and a pass ball to plate two runs and cut the Colonel lead in half 6-3. In the fifth, Jack Smale (Kunkletown, PA/Pleasant Valley) ripped a two-run single to center field with runners on second and third to clear the bases and put Wilkes ahead 8-3.

Juniata responded with two more runs in their half of the inning, starting with a bases-loaded walk by Hunter Lawall (West Wyoming, PA/Wyoming Area). The Eagles plated another as Landon Blank scored on a double play.

The Colonel offense maintained their lead once again in the sixth, driving in three runs in consecutive at-bats. With the bases loaded, PJ Stonsby (Bedford, NY/Fox Lane) started the rally with an RBI single to right, followed by an RBI groundout by Loch that scored Uram. A chaotic play ended the inning, as Melberger reached on an error that allowed Mike Show (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights) to cross home, but Stonsby was called out at third to end the half-inning with the Colonels ahead 11-5.

The Eagles closed the gap with five runs in the sixth and seventh innings, bringing the hosts closer to the Colonel lead than they'd been all day 11-9. In the eighth, Gavin Lacoe's (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights) two-run blast to left put the game out of reach to give the Colonels the 13-10 win.

Nikolas Schwartz (Jim Thorpe, PA/Jim Thorpe) (3-1) picked up the win going two innings in relief of Lawall, allowing four runs (all unearned) on two hits with five strikeouts. Miller picked up the first save of his collegiate career with a shutout ninth inning. At the plate, Miller, Uram and Loch all recorded a team-high three hits, with Loch boasting three RBIs to lead the team. Nine different Colonels recorded a hit in the contest.

Juniata starter Braelan Huber (1-3) took the loss, allowing five runs on five hits through 2.2 innings. At the plate, Ty Vickers led the Eagles going 3-for-3 with two RBIs.

Wilkes returns to action on Tuesday, April 21 as they host Misericordia University in the team's Morgan's Message Dedication Game. First pitch at Bruggeworth Field is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.