The Wilkes University baseball team is looking to improve off of last season’s record of 21-15.

The team has been in a bit of a slump lately winning only one out of the last five games. Halfway through the season the Colonels have a record of 9-11 and 4-6 in Freedom Conference play.

With 13 games left to be played, the Colonels can finish the season strong.

“Our team has struggled hitting lately, we aren’t making hits in key situations, and we wait till late in games to rally and begin to get into the game as a team, we are currently not where we want to be” said sophomore pitcher and outfielder Marcus Leaf.

The Colonels have been led offensively by Alex Kramer who has a .500 batting average, Matthew Reese with a .379 batting average, and Dan Pisanchyn with a .342.

Rounding out the top hitters on the team are Johnny Jan Jr. with a .333 batting average Ryan Herbst with a .304 batting average.

Currently Alex Kramer and Kevin Klatt are tied for first with an on-base percentage of .500. Next is James Brown with a .460 percentage followed by Matthew Reese (.455) and Dan Pisanchyn (.444).

With 13 games left the Colonels are hoping to turn things around and get into the playoffs. To turn the season around they will need to keep working hard.

“We need our hitting to come around in order to be successful,” Leaf said. “Our pitching and defense keep us in games, if we can get our offense rolling, we can dominate teams in the MAC as well as teams we play out of conference.”

Out of the last 13 games Wilkes has seven in conference games and six non-conference games.

Freedom Conference games include double-headers against Manhattanville College, another double-header against Fairleigh Dickinson and finally and the last double header of the year against Misericordia University.

Non-conference games include Pennsylvania College of Technology, Penn State Berks, University of Scranton, Penn State Harrisburg and Baptist Bible College.

Even though the Colonels have lost four out of their last five games, the team is looking to turn it around and still have goals in plan for the rest of the season.

“As a team we are looking to make it into the MAC playoffs and potentially win the whole thing that is one of our team goals.” Leaf added.

“I need to become more consistent at the plate, also I want to be making plays that the average outfielder can’t.”

This week, the Colonels play at the Pennsylvania College of Technology April 15 then host FDU-Florham April 18.