EDWARDSVILLE, Pa. – A hot start by the Misericordia University Cougars proved too much for the Wilkes University baseball team to handle, as they fell 13-8 at Bruggeworth Field Tuesday afternoon.

Wilkes falls to 21-12 overall after the non-conference contest, while Misericordia improves to 25-12.

The Cougars scored four runs in the top of the first and top of the second to race out to an 8-0 lead, forcing Colonel starting pitcher Jake Miller (Chambersburg, PA/James Buchanan) out of the game after only 1.1 innings.

In the bottom of the second, reigning Landmark Conference Athlete of the Week Andres Cruz (Wayne, PA/Radnor) continued his spectacular play at the plate with a home run that put the Colonels on the board.

Wilkes then put together a small rally in the fourth inning to cut the Cougar lead in half, scoring on three consecutive at-bats. With runners on the corners, Michael Sabella (Cornelius, NC/Hough) got the run started with a single to right to plate Jack Mathis (Exeter PA/Wyoming Area), followed by a double from Tyler Uram (Carbondale Twp, PA/Lakeland) to bring home Cruz. PJ Stonsby (Bedford, NY/Fox Lane) made it 8-4 with a single to center, driving home Sabella.

In the fifth, Sabella picked up his second RBI of the day with a sacrifice fly, while Uram and Gannon Decker (Hawley, PA/Wallenpaupack Area) added two more in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI double and single respectively. Unfortunately for Wilkes, they wouldn't be enough to catch the Cougars, who went on to win 13-8.

Miller (3-2) was given the loss, allowing seven runs (five earned) on four hits, striking out three. Uram and Mathis led the team with four hits each, while Uram led the team with two RBIs. Sabella and Cruz also had two RBIs, including a groundout in the eighth by the latter that scored Wilkes' final run of the day.

Jase Seltzer (6-1) picked up the win for Misericordia, allowing four runs on seven hits, striking out one. Three Cougars shared a team-high three hits, with Bryant Diaz leading all players with three RBIs.

Wilkes returns to conference action tomorrow, as they travel to face the University of Scranton at 5:30 p.m.