EDWARDSVILLE, Pa. – The Wilkes University baseball team opened their weekend series under the flood lights at Bruggeworth Field Friday night, falling to Catholic University 9-2.

Wilkes falls to 22-13 (17-4 Landmark) with the loss, while Catholic improves to 20-15 (10-12 Landmark).

Matthew Fisher opened the scoring for Catholic in the top of the fourth inning, as his towering home run to left put the visitors ahead 2-0. The Cardinals scored two more runs in the inning, jumping out to a 4-0 lead.

Wilkes got on the board with a small rally in the bottom of the fifth, starting with Jeremiah Atwell (Eastlake, OH/Willoughby South) reaching home on a pass ball. Jacob Cambria (Elysburg, PA/Southern Columbia) then drove in Jake Miller (Chambersburg, PA/James Buchanan) on a Catholic error after laying down a spectacular bunt to make it a 5-2 ballgame.

The Colonels unfortunately couldn't add any more runs on the day, as the Cardinals went on to win 9-2.

Nikolas Schwartz (Jim Thorpe, PA/Jim Thorpe) (3-2) was given the loss in his first collegiate start, allowing five runs on eight hits through 4.2 innings with a career-high five strikeouts. At the plate, Atwell, Nathan Loch (Effort, PA/Pleasant Valley), and Andres Cruz (Wayne, PA/Radnor) were the lone Colonels with a hit.

Roman Tozzi (4-1) picked up the win on the mound for the Cardinals, allowing two runs (unearned) on two hits with three strikeouts. Fisher led the team at the plate going 3-for-5 with three RBIs.

Wilkes returns to action against the Cardinals for a doubleheader on Sunday beginning at 12:00 p.m. The Colonels will be celebrating Alumni Day in between the day's games.