BASEBALL

WILKES-BARRE -- The Wilkes University baseball team pushed across five runs in the top of the ninth inning to rally for a 7-5 victory over King's College Monday at Betzler Fields.

With the win, Wilkes improved to 12-9 overall and 5-5 in Freedom Conference games. King's, which out hit Wilkes 15-5 but stranded 11 runners, slipped to 10-11 overall and 5-7 in conference action.

After King's scored two runs in the eighth to build a seemingly comfortable 5-2 lead, Wilkes' Geoff Miller drew a leadoff walk against Monarch relief pitcher Mark Yankowski.. After Yankowski struck out Eric Wtezel, Colonel pinch hitter Andrew Garofoli drew a one-out walk.

After pinch hitter Billy Sisko singled in Miller from second, King's would bring Eric Matula in from the bullpen. Mike McAndrew came through for Wilkes with an RBI single just off the outstretched glove of King's second baseman Matt Feci to plate Garofoli and cut the Monarch lead to 5-4. Kyle Follweiler would then reach base on a costly Monarch error as Sisko scored from third base and tie the game at 5-5.

After Corey Helfrich followed with an RBI single to give the Colonels a 6-5 lead, Follweiler would eventually score on a bases-loaded walk from John McNichol, the Monarchs third relief pitcher of the inning, to take a 7-5 lead

King's would attempt to rally when Pat McGlynn reached base on a Colonel error, but Gracjan Kraszeski would ground into a double play to empty the bases. The game would end when Colnel relief pitcher Anthony Giuffrida struck out Ryan Knowles to end the game.

King's took a 1-0 lead in the second when Matt Unger singled and eventually scored on a base hit from Jeremy Bonser. The Monarchs added a run in the third when Jon Venarchick reached base on a fielder's choice, advanced to second on a wild pitch, then scored on a Wilkes error.

the Colonels would cut the lead to 2-1 in the sixth when Dwight Smith walked and eventually scored on a two-out bases-loaded walk issued by King's reliever Ryan Derry.

The Monarchs answered with a run in the sixth when Bonser singled and pinch runner Tom Parris scored on a single by J.R. Graver to pus the King's lead to 3-1.

The Colonels cut the lead to 3-2 in the eighth when McAndrew walked and later scored on a Monarch error.

King's appeared to put the game away in the bottom half of the eighth when Graver and Matt Livoy stroked back-to-back singles, followed by a two-run double by Jon Venarchick to stretch the King's advantage to 5-2 heading into the final frame where Wilkes scored five runs thanks to three hits and four walks issued by Monarch pitchers.

Helfrich was the only Wilkes player with more than one hit, tallying a second inning double and ninth inning single. Sisko was 1-for-2 with an RBI McAndrew was 1-for-3 with an RBI.

Livoy went 3-for-4 for the Monarchs while Unger finished the day 3-for-5. Bonser and Kraszewski added two hits each while Venarchick was 1-for-5 with two RBI.

Giuffrida (4-0) picked up the win in relief, pitching three innings and allowing two runs on three hits with three strikeouts.

Matula (1-2) took the loss for the Monarchs, allowing two runs, one earned on two hits. Monarch starter J.T. Levonick pitched well, lasting five and one-third innings in which he allowed one run on two hits and struck out two batters.

King's will travel to face Marywood Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. in Scranton.