WILKES-BARRE, PA - The Cabrini baseball team dropped a nonconference matchup against the hosting Wilkes University Colonels on Wednesday afternoon by a 17-8 final.
The Diamond Cavs pitching staff allowed a season high 17 runs on 18 hits. Junior
Drew Jackson was saddled with the loss after allowing eight runs, six earned, in 2.1 innings of work. The righty issued six free passes and struck out three.
Opposing starter Frank Navatta labored through two innings, as he allowed six earned and four walks on three hits. The Colonels' bullpen picked their starter up, however as four pitchers combined for seven innings and allowed just a pair of runs to the Cavs' high powered offense.
Brendan Van Belle paced the aforementioned Cavalier offense as the sophomore finished with a team high three hits, while also scoring a pair of runs. Junior
Shaun Stackhouse was the only other Cav to tally multiple hits thanks to a 2-4 effort, including a run scored.
Outfielder
Tyler Norris continued his hot streak since returning to the lineup as the senior finished his afternoon 1-4 with four RBI's, highlighted by a three run bomb in the top of the third. Norris' homer gives him a team high three long balls on the year, while pushing his RBI total to 15.
Freshman
Garrett Laraia also made his presence felt thanks to a two run triple, his second of the season, in the seventh.
The Blue and White got off to a fast start as they struck for three runs in the top of the first. After loading the bases with nobody out, Norris worked out a walk to force home the game's first run. Freshman
Brandon Loner and sophomore
Steven Priest followed with RBI ground outs to push the lead to 3-0.
Wilkes would respond with a run in the bottom half of the frame, followed by three runs in the second to steal the lead at 4-3. Norris' three run jack in the third quickly put the Cavs back on top at 6-4.
The Colonels busted the game open in their half of the third, however, as they struck for seven runs in the inning to take an 11-6 lead.
The hosts added three runs in the sixth, two in the seventh, and one in the eighth to balloon their lead to 17-8. Laraia's triple in the seventh would cap the scoring for the Cavaliers.
Nolan Ott (2IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 1K) would collect the victory for Wilkes after coming on in relief of Navatta.
Following this afternoon's game, the Blue and White move to 17-6 overall, while staying pat at 6-0 in conference play. They will have a chance to extend their conference lead on Saturday, April 6th when they host rival Neumann University for a double header. First pitch is slated for 1pm.
