Center Valley, PA (April 25, 2015) – The DeSales University baseball team used late inning rallies in both ends of the doubleheader on Saturday afternoon, sweeping Wilkes University by scores of 10-7 and 9-6, in Freedom Conference action.
 
The wins coupled with one loss by Misericordia on Saturday means DeSales (22-12, 16-2 Freedom) is now just one win away from clinching the top seed in the Freedom Conference Tournament in two weeks.
 
Game One (W/10-7)
Wilkes (16-18, 10-11 Freedom) opened the first game with two runs in the top of the first inning but the Bulldogs scored three in the bottom half of the inning on a two-RBI triple from sophomore Mike Kacergis and an RBI double from junior Colby Kulig.
 
The Colonels regained the lead in the top of the second inning plating four runs to lead 6-3.
 
The Bulldogs got two back in the bottom of the third taking advantage of four Wilkes errors and took the lead for good in the fourth plating five runs.  Sophomore Tommy DePaul tripled in sophomore Tyler Sweeney, who doubled to lead off the inning.  Kacergis then had an RBI single, sophomore Konner Schneider drew a bases loaded walk, and freshman Conner Lafferty scored on a balk.
 
The bullpen did the rest as senior Eric Dillard earned the win pitching 2 1/3 innings allowing just three hits.  Junior Chris Zampini also pitched 2 1/3 innings allowing just one run and two hits, striking out three and junior Evan Fraser did the rest getting the final two outs to earn his eighth save of the year.
 
DePaul finished the game 2-for-2 with two runs scored, freshman Hunter Hart scored twice, Kacergis had two hits and three RBIs, Kulig had three hits and two runs scored, and Lafferty had two hits and two runs scored to lead the offensive attack.
 
Game Two (W/9-6)
The Bulldogs were the ones out early in game two scoring twice in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Kacergis and a Colonel error and scored three more times in third inning on an RBI double from senior Drew Borger and two more Wilkes errors.
 
Wilkes refused to go away scoring three times in the fourth, once in the fifth, and twice more in the sixth inning to take a 6-5 lead thru five and a half innings.
 
DeSales answered in the bottom of the sixth as junior Alec Hardy singled just in front of the catcher and Schneider reached on an error by the third baseman.  Sweeney then bunted reached on a bunt to first base loading the bases.
 
DePaul then broke it open for DeSales lacing a ball over the right fielder's head for a stand up triple knocking in three runs and came around to score to batters later on a squeeze bunt from Borger.
 
Sophomore Tyler Cooperman earned the win in relief allowing one unearned run and Fraser came in again in the seventh allow just one hit to earn his ninth save of the year.
 
The Bulldogs are back in action on Sunday traveling to Delaware Valley College for another Freedom Conference doubleheader needing just one win to clinch the top seed in the Freedom Conference Tournament.