AMBLER, Pa. - The Arcadia University baseball team split the opening two games of the MAC Freedom quarterfinals with Wilkes University on Saturday afternoon. Justin Massielo worked a bases-loaded, walk-off walk in the ninth inning of the opener to claim a double-header split for the Knights. 

ARCADIA 4, WILKES 3
HOW IT HAPPENED
- In the third inning, Emilio Pallante singled to centerfield with one out and stole second base to put himself in scoring position. Nick Bon Tempo came through with a single to plate Pallante for the game's first run, 1-0.

- After Wilkes tied things up in the fourth inning, the Knights regained the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom half. Joseph Kumar brought home the first run with a sacrifice flyout, while Trey Obarowski singled to left center to plate one more, 3-1. 

- The Colonels tied things up with runs in the sixth and eighth innings, 3-3. Owen Margolis shut down Wilkes in the ninth inning with a 1-2-3 frame to put the Knights in position to walk it off. Pallante and Bon Tempo both worked walks to open the inning and advanced with stolen bases. Connor Cheeseman was then intentionally walked, before Massielo worked a four-pitch, bases-loaded walk to end the game, 4-3.

KNIGHTS OFFENSIVE LEADERS
- Massielo: 1-3, R, RBI, 2 BB
- Bon Tempo: 1-2, RBI, 2 BB
- Obarowski: 1-3, RBI, BB

KNIGHTS PITCHING LEADERS
- Curley: 5.2 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 3 SO
- Margolis: W (2-0), 0 R, 0 H, 2 SO
 

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ARCADIA 8, WILKES 12
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Knights put themselves in an early hole after allowing the Colonels to score the first 11 runs of the contest.

- Arcadia broke through with two runs in the fourth inning. Ryan Smolen grounded out to plate the first runner, while Cheeseman added on another with a single to center. The Colonels got one of the Knights runs back in the fifth inning, 12-2.

- The Knights clawed back into the game with a crooked number in the fifth inning. Zachary Sekelick provided the first run with a sacrifice fly, while Massielo and Smolen added singles to plate two more. Cheeseman then legged out an inside-the-park, three-run homer to bring the Knights within four runs, 12-8.

- Nadell Booker provided the Knights with four quality innings of scoreless pitching. The first-year pitcher allowed just two hits, while striking out four batters to keep his offense in the game. The Knights had an opportunity to score with two runners in scoring position with no outs in the ninth, but were unable to capitalize. 

KNIGHTS OFFENSIVE LEADERS
- Cheeseman: 3-5, 4 RBI, HR
- Smolen: 1-5, 2 RBI, R
- Massielo: 1-4, RBI, 2 R, BB

KNIGHTS PITCHING LEADERS
- Booker: 4 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 3 SO

UP NEXT
The Knights (20-10) conclude its best-of-three series at Wilkes University, tomorrow at noon.