ST,DAVIDS, Pa.– Freshman left-fielder Liam Clare went 3-for-4 with three 2-out RBI's, but it was not enough as Eastern University Baseball dropped its series finale, 8-5, to the Wilkes University Colonels in an away game played at home. Despite making solid contact for most of the day, the Eagles fell behind 5-1, and were never able to build a build a big inning to rally.
The game, which was originally to be played at Wilkes was moved to St. Davids because the field at Wilkes was not yet playable. The two teams split a doubleheader to open the series yesterday.
The Eagles led off the game at the plate and hit three line-drive outs to the outfield. Eastern starter
Jacob Breyer walked the first man he faced before getting the next three hitters in very routine fashion. The leadoff walk was one of only two on the afternoon for the Colonels the other walk was an intentional pass in the third inning. Wilkes walked 13 times in the the second game of the series.
The Eagles struck first with a single run in the third. The inning, however failed to reach its full potential as Zach Belansek walked and
Jordan Laboy hit a ball through the hole on the right side to put runners on the corners with no one out.
Brad Clemens drove in Laboy with a sacrifice fly and
Timmy Gorton flied out to deep left-center with two runners on to end the inning.
Wilkes got one run back on a pair of hits in the third and then built their lead to 5-1 with a four-run fourth. In the top of the fifth, Clarke came through with a two-out single to drive in Belansek who had doubled to lead off the game, but the Colonels scored three more with two outs in the fifth.
Matt Bunjo came on with a runner on third and two outs. He went up 0-2 on Matt Reinart, but the Wilkes center fielder looped a soft liner to left to score a run. The Colonels scored two more off Bunjo with soft hits to unoccupied space in the outfield.
"Matt has been so good for us," Head Coach
Jed Morris said after the game. "He missed a spot on the 0-2 pitch, but made good pitches after that. Justin and Tommy came on to hold them scoreless for the next three innings and give us a chance to rally."
Justin Fredericks gave up a pair of doubles in the sixth, but a great throw from
Jordan Laboy from deep right field got Wilkes Third baseman Joe Champi trying to stretch a double into a triple.
Tommy Strazza worked scoreless frames in the seventh and eighth.
The Eagles closed the gap with three runs in the seventh. Belansek doubled to drive in one run and Clarke came through with a two-out single to drive in two more, but Wilkes brought in a reliever Matthew Konikow to strike out Brad Clemons and earn the final seven outs of the game.
"This was a tough one," Morris concluded. "We can play better. There were some encouraging signs from guys starting to hit the ball with some more consistency, we are going to have to put all the pieces together next week.
The Eagles will host Cabrini on Tuesday and will travel to Cairn on Wednesday before playing a weekend series against FDU-Florham.
Follow @EUEagles on Twitter or check this site for schedule updates.
