Quakertown, PA (May 4, 2007) – The DeSales University baseball team out-hit Wilkes University, 12-5, but left 11 men on-base as the Colonels used some clutch hitting to upset the top ranked Bulldogs, 4-3, in 11 innings in the opening game of the 2007 Freedom Conference playoff tournament.

 

        DeSales (24-14 overall) will now attempt to advance thru the loser’s bracket for the second straight year as they will play FDU-Florham (19-17 overall) at 11:00 am needing a win to stay alive in the double elimination tournament.  Wilkes University (22-10 overall) will meet King’s College (28-9 overall) in the second game on Saturday beginning at 2:30 pm with the winner of the 11:00 am game meeting the loser of the 2:30 pm game at 6:00 pm.

 

        The Bulldogs had several chances to take an early lead as they loaded the bases with no one out in the second inning and scored only one run and had first and third one out in the third inning and were unable to score.

 

        After taking a 1-0 lead on an RBI groundout from freshman Derek Moyer (Harleysville, PA/Souderton) in bottom of the second inning, the Colonels answered as Mike McAndrew had a two-out RBI single and Corey Helfrich laced a two-out double to right-field plating McAndrew, giving Wilkes a 2-1 lead.

 

        DeSales wasted no time tying the game when freshman Doc Neiman (Center Valley, PA/Southern Lehigh) and senior Matt Lezinsky (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) had back-to-back doubles in the third inning but Lezinsky was thrown at the plate on a double steal squandering DSU’s chance to regain the lead.

 

        Neither team had serious chances to score until the ninth inning when Wilkes put a runner on third base with one out, but senior Jon Kensecki (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) struck out the last two Colonels to retire the side.  In the bottom of the ninth, DSU had runners on first and second with two out but sophomore Mike Bianca (Ellicott City, MD/Mt. St. Joseph) grounded out to the pitcher to end the threat.

 

        Wilkes went in order in the 10^th and DSU put itself in position once again to win the game as Neiman singled and move to second on a sacrifice bunt with two outs.  Junior Scott Matejicka (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) was intentionally walked but sophomore Zac Hess (Harleysville, PA/LaSalle) struck out ending the inning.

 

        In the 11^th McAndrew walked to lead off the inning and moved to second on a wild pitch.  Helfrich flied out to centerfield and Kyle Follweiler popped out to second base leaving McAndrew at second base.  After Chris Mayerski was intentionally walked, Matt LoPresto smacked a double to left field plating both McAndrew and Mayerski giving Wilkes a 4-2 lead.

 

        DSU mounted a rally in the bottom of the inning as sophomore Matt Connors (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) singled and scored on a double by Bianca but he was stranded at second base when junior Andrew Heard (Alexandria, VA/Hayfield) fouled out to third base.

 

        Matejicka had three hits for the Bulldogs, while Bianca, Neiman and sophomore Greg Treat (Concord, NH/Concord) each had two hits in the loss.  LoPresto was the lone Colonel with multiple hits (two) for Wilkes.  Tom Buckler earned the win pitching two innings allowing three hits and one run, while Kensecki was charged with the loss allowing just one hit, the double to LoPresto, while striking out three and walking two Colonels.

 

        In the second game of the day, Mike Venarchick had just one hit but it was a big one, a grand slam in the bottom of the fifth inning finalizing a five-run fifth that was the only scoring in the game as King’s outlasted FDU-Florham, 5-0.  Senior Caleb Calarco was the winner scattering six hits over eight innings and striking out six to improve to 7-2.  Ryan Flannery took the loss for the Devils.