FORT PIERCE, Fla. – The Elizabethtown College baseball team opened its spring break trip, taking two from Wilkes, 12-1 and 5-4, Sunday in non-conference action.

With the two wins, the Blue Jays improve to 3-1 on the season, while the Colonels fall to 0-3 overall.

Senior Derek Manning finished the day with three doubles and three RBI, while classmate Mike Christy matched him in doubles with two RBI and three runs scored. Sophomore Tyler McGonigle racked up five hits with two RBI and a run scored and junior JT Thompson went 3-5 with three runs scored.

GAME ONE: ELIZABETHTOWN 12 WILKES 1
After Wilkes opened the scoring in the third with an unearned run, Elizabethtown responded in a big way in the bottom of the inning. Manning got the party started, doubling down the left field line plating freshman Ben Watson and McGonigle. Christy followed up with a double of his own, bringing junior Andrew Fisher around to score and giving the Blue Jays a 3-1 lead.

The innings continued with senior Riley McGinley slapping a single, and driving in Manning and Christy, increasing Elizabethtown's advantage to 5-1.

Elizabethtown scored two more runs in the third and five more overall to take game of the day in dominating fashion, 12-1.

Junior Joseph Sarich (2-0) had another strong outing for the Blue Jays, going five innings and striking out six. It his second straight start not allowing an earned run.

GAME TWO: ELIZABETHTOWN 5 WILKES 4
Holding a 3-2 lead heading into the third inning, junior Michael Rajnik knocked a double down the left field line, plating Thompson and Christy and increasing Elizabethtown's lead to 5-2.

Wilkes began to chip away at the lead with a run in the fifth and then loaded the bases with two outs. Senior Ben Thorpe, however, entered the game and got Vincent Uzzi to strikeout swinging to escape the inning up 5-3.

The Colonels threatened again in the sixth, scoring one run with one out and putting runners at the corner. Junior Reece Jones locked in on the mount, striking out the final two batters of the inning. Junior Kelly Holdren then entered in the seventh, for a one, two, three inning, his first save of the season and wrapped up the 5-4 win for the Blue Jays.

Sophomore Eric Sipling (1-1) pitched four and two third innings, allowing three runs on four hits.

Elizabethtown is back in action tomorrow, Mar. 2, against Kenyon. First pitch of game one is 10 a.m.