DOYLESTOWN (PA) – Wilkes University defeated the Delaware Valley University baseball team, 2-1 in a low-scoring Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom affair on Thursday.

The Aggies fell back to 2-2 in the conference and they are 9-4 overall. The Colonels picked up their first MAC Freedom win of the season (1-3) and upped their overall mark to 9-7.

DelVal sophomore righty Jeremy Hefele and Wilkes left-hander Quinn Kelly were locked in a pitcher's duel all afternoon. The first run did not surface until the eighth inning when the Colonels took a 1-0 lead. With two outs, shortstop Matthew Reese reached on an error and left fielder James Brown drove him in with a double to left center.

However, the Aggies came right back to tie the game in the bottom half of the frame. Sophomore shortstop Kevin Crill drew a leadoff walk. Right-hander Matt Kaster came in to relieve Kelly and junior Nate Cummings laid down a pinch-hit sacrifice bunt to move Crill to second. After a strikeout, junior second baseman Ben Lippincott sent a line drive to right center, scoring Crill.

In the top of the ninth, third baseman Joe Champi led off with a walk for Wilkes. First baseman Ryan Herbst doubled to right center and Champi went to third. After a line out, designated hitter Joshua Slocum hit a sacrifice fly to right field and Champi tallied the go-ahead run. DelVal got the tying run on base with a two-out single by senior designated hitter Matt Dewald but Kaster induced a pop up to secure the victory.

Kelly went seven innings and allowed one run on four hits and one walk while striking out six. Kaster went the final two frames to pick up the win (2-0). Hefele hurled all nine innings and surrendered two runs, one earned, and six hits. He walked three and fanned eight batters in the loss (2-1).

Dewald went three-for-four while Crill was one-for-two with a walk. Junior center fielder Kyle Wenger hit a double.

The two squads are scheduled to wrap up the season series with a doubleheader at Wilkes on Friday, March 25 (1:00 p.m.).