WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - The Wilkes University baseball team dropped a low-scoring contest to the University of Scranton Royals 3-0 Wednesday evening at Bruggeworth Field.

The loss dropped the Colonels to 15-9 (12-3 Landmark), while the Royals improved to 20-7 (9-3 Landmark) this season.

Both offenses struggled out of the gate thanks to strong pitching from Wilkes' Tyler Ansell (Knoxville, TN/South Doyle) and Scranton's John DeStefano. Ansell allowed a hit in each of the first four innings but didn't allow any runners to score, while DeStefano faced the minimum number of batters through five innings of work.

Scranton struck first in the top of the fifth when Roman Valvano hustled out an infield single, and then advanced to second base after a throwing error by Ansell. A Conor Campbell single the very next at-bat got runners on the corners with only one out, and then a Jared Cassella sacrifice fly brought home Valvano for the game's first run.

After a scoreless sixth inning, the Royals scored two crucial insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Aidan Casey led off the frame with a double, then Valvano singled and advanced to second on a throw, and then Campbell hit a sacrifice fly to bring in the second run. With Valvano still on second and one out, pinch-hitter Logan Mason hit an RBI single that brought in Valvano to make it 3-0 Scranton.

The best chance the Colonels had to rally came in the bottom of the seventh. Jack Mathis (Exeter PA/Wyoming Area) tripled to left field with only one out, but Andres Cruz (Wayne, PA/Radnor) and Jeremiah Atwell (Eastlake, OH/Willoughby South) both struck out to end the inning.

Scranton held Wilkes' bats quiet in the eighth and ninth, got the final six outs, and secured the win. Ansell took the loss for the Colonels by going four and two-thirds innings pitched, allowing one run off seven hits and one strikeout. Meanwhile, DeStefano earned the win with seven and two-thirds scoreless innings, allowing six hits and striking out batters, and Ryan Boyd picked up a four-out save to seal the deal.

Valvano led the Royals with three hits, and Campbell, Cassella, and Mason each recorded a hit and an RBI. Jack Mathis (Exeter PA/Wyoming Area) was the only Colonel to record multiple hits, and was the only player to reach third base all game.

The Colonels return to the field tomorrow afternoon against Keystone College. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.