APRIL 12, 2002
BOB ZIADIE
SPOTTS NINTH INNING HOME RUN LIFTS WILKES OVER KING'S, 3-1
WILKES-BARRE -- Mike Spotts his a clutch two-out, two-run home run
in the top-of-the ninth inning to propel the Wilkes University baseball
team to a dramatic 3-1 victory over host King's College Friday at Betzler
Fields.
After both teams each scored a run in the first inning, pitching dominated
the next seven innings. With the score tied 1-1 entering the ninth,
Wilkes got a break when Dave Morgan led off the inning by reaching base on
a Monarch error.
Monarch starting pitcher Matt Loringer than induced Steve Leskiw to fly
out to shallow right field before retiring Scott Garger on strikes for the
second out of the inning. Spotts would then come to the plate where
he drilled a Loringer offering over the leftfield fence to plate two runs
and give the Colonels a 3-1 lead.
In the bottom of the ninth, King's would threaten when Charlie Jenkins
reached base on an infield error by Spotts on a routine grounder to second
base. But after Jeremy Sauers popped out to Spotts, the Colonel sophomore
teamed with shortstop Tyler Truitt and Morgan at first base to turn a
game-ending double-play off the bat of Monarch rookie Kyle Newberry.
The game appeared as if it might be a repeat of the 11-11 non-conference
tie the teams engaged in during spring break in Cocoa Beach, Fl. in March.
Wilkes took a 1-0 lead in the first when Matt Diltz singled and
moved to third when King's catcher Jeremy Sauers' throw to first on a
sacrifice bunt sailed into right field. Two outs later, Garger posted an
RBI single to bring home Diltz with an unearned run.
King's countered in its half of the inning when leadoff hitter Jason
Melendez reached base on an error and later scored an unearned run on an
RBI single off the bat of Newberry.
But starting the second inning Loringer and Wilkes' starter Joe Casey
controlled the action on the hill. Loringer would allow just three hits
over the final eight inning while Casey yielded just two hits over the
next seven innings before giving way to McDermott who picked up the save
in pitching the ninth inning. Both team's pitching was so dominant
the nine-inning contest lasted just 1:46 in total time.
Diltz led Wilkes with a 3-for-3 showing including a triple. Jon Deroba and
Melendez joined Newberry for King's only three hits of the game.
With the win, Wilkes improved to 16-11-1 overall and 3-7 in MAC Freedom
Conference action. The Monarchs fell to 8-16-1 overall and 4-9 in
conference play.
The teams are now slated to play Saturday in a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader at
Wilkes' Artillery Park, Kingston.
