BB: Kemp’s seventh inning strikeout grants Wilkes first conference wins
A doubleheader on Saturday afternoon led to 4-3 and 7-6 wins for Wilkes as they hosted FDU-Florham after a 6-5 loss on Friday.
In the first game, both sides of the field remained scoreless until the fourth inning. FDU got the bats going in the top of the frame, scoring three runs off of six hits.
Wilkes answered in the bottom of the fourth with RBIs from junior AJ Brosious, who had a sacrifice fly to center, and senior Michael Patrizio, who had a sacrifice fly to right field.
By the fifth inning, the score remained 3-2 in the Devils’ favor as each team played tough.
In the sixth inning, Patrizio got his second RBI of the day by doubling to left- center, bringing in first-year Mike Show to tie the game.
Wilkes held FDU scoreless in the seventh and added another run as first-year Zach Luksic singled to left field, scoring graduate student Brandon Reno the winning run.
“It was thrilling to hit in the winning run,” said Luksic. “Reno had a great hit and did his job getting on base in that situation. The same goes for Stone Warmouth, working an at-bat to get the walk to first. So to have those runners in scoring position really helped me with hitting the ball to the outfield to bring them in.”
Senior Tony Molitoris pitched six innings only allowing six hits, three runs, four walks and added four strikeouts. Junior Sawyer Kemp closed the game by pitching one inning, not allowing any hits, and adding two strikeouts as well as one walk.
“Winning the first game was definitely important,” said Molitoris. “We have been in a slump the last couple of weeks so it was good to get the first one today and be able to have a chance to win the series.”
Game two started out hot as FDU got the bats firing in the top of the first inning, scoring two runs. Wilkes responded with an RBI double from Reno, scoring graduate student Nick Pronti.
The Devils came back in the second inning with a solo home run from fifth-year Matt Nodoro, making the score 3-1 at the top of the second.
No scores in the third and fourth innings for FDU led to a chance for Wilkes to score as junior Peyton Schuck brought in Luksic and Reno on a single to left-center in the bottom of the fourth, tying the score.
First-year Chase Vrabel singled to center, scoring first-year Jimmy Brazofsky to get a 4-3 lead.
The Colonels held FDU scoreless in the fifth inning and added three runs of their own to the board. Junior Max Alessi doubled to left-field, bringing in Reno. Schuck singled up the middle, scoring both Luksic and Alessi.
The score was 7-3 in the Colonels’ favor going into the top of the seventh inning.
The Devils tried to make a comeback, scoring three runs on a three-run home run by senior Tommy Moore, but Wilkes got the final out on a strikeout, ending the game and getting their second conference win of the day and season.
Senior Gage Coudriet got the win on the mound as he pitched four innings allowing three runs on five hits with two walks and one strikeout. First-year Todd Kolbicka pitched 2.2 innings in relief with two hits, three runs, two walks, and one strikeout. Finally, Kemp pitched 0.1 innings with a single strikeout to end the game.
“It felt great to get two conference wins today,” said Coudriet. “I am proud of everyone on this team and the way we bounced back after the loss on Friday. Time to get back to work this week and build upon the successes we saw in this series.”
The Colonels return to the pitch with a trip to DeSales University on Friday at 3:30 p.m.
Baylee Guedes is graduating in May of 2023 with a major in Communication Studies obtaining a concentration in Multimedia Journalism, as well as a minor...