ST. DAVIDS, Pa.– Eastern University Baseball saw a close game get away late as the visiting Wilkes University Colonels scored five times int he final three innings to earn an 8-2 win in the deciding game of the MAC Freedom series. The Eagles (4-15, 2-3 MAC Freedom) only managed five hits in the loss.

How It Happened:
The Colonels (6-10, 3-3 MAC Freedom) scored a pair in the top of the first on a one-out double down the left field line. Wilkes put another runner on before Tyler Bennet worked his way out of the jam,

The Eagles grabbed one back on a Matt McHale single to drive in Zach Belansek in the bottom of the second, but the home side was unable to tie the game. The Eagles put two on in the third as well, but Belansek struck out on close pitch with two in scoring position.

Bennett gave up one more run on a a pair of singles in the fourth, but the sophomore starter kept his team in it for six innings. Britton Lawrence drove in Belansek with a double in the sixth to close the gap to 3-2, but the Colonel offense grabbed two runs off Christian Shissler in the seventh and three more off Matt Poma in the ninth for the final margin.

The loss gives the Colonels an important tiebreaker should the two teams finish tied in the standings.

Coach Renauro Says:
"We didn't jump on the fastball early in the game and let their pitcher get too comfortable.We gave them too many free bases with walks. It is  hard to compete that way. Britton got to the game late after finishing a test. He put a few good at bats together. He has been hitting balls hard all spring."

Up Next:
The Eagles start their weekend with a three-game set against Misericordia. After playing a nine-inning game in Dallas, the Eagles will host the Cougars in a doubleheader on Saturday. Eastern will then play the deciding game of the Manhattanville series on Sunday.