Box Score KINGSTON (PA) – Stephen Ruch hit a grand slam home run as part of a seven-run, fifth inning as host Wilkes University pulled away to an 11-1 victory over Delaware Valley College in the opening contest of a three-game series.
The Colonels improved to 7-8 overall and 4-1 in the Freedom while the Aggies, who took the diamond for a game for the first time since March 14, fell to 6-5 and 0-1. The series will shift to Doylestown for a doubleheader on Friday (weather permitting).
Wilkes led 3-0 going into the bottom of the seventh when it notched the seven runs off of four hits, three walks and two Aggie errors. Three runs were already in and the bases were loaded with one out when Ruch connected for his fourth home run of the year.
Delaware Valley got its lone tally in the sixth as
Matt DeWald and Aaron Crill had back-to-back, one-out singles.
Nick Liantonio reached on an error and
Nate Cummings drew a walk to bring home DeWald. The Colonels notched their final run in the bottom of the eighth.
Ruch was 2-for-4 with two runs and four RBIs on the big blast. Ryan Herbst added a 3-for-4 effort. Patrick Condo went five-plus innings, fanned eight and picked up the win.
Austin Bregman had three of the Aggies' eight hits with a 3-for-5 showing. DeWald was 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Liam Constantine gave up five earned runs in four-plus innings and took the loss.