LA PLUME, PA- The Keystone College baseball team used a clutch late-game rally to secure a 6-4 victory over Wilkes University on Thursday afternoon, erupting for four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to turn the tide and complete the comeback at home.

The Giants and the Colonels started the game off in a stalemate, with neither team able to find any scoring through the first five innings of play. The Giants totaled three hits through the first five innings, leaving every batter stranded. 

The Colonels opened the scoring in the sixth inning with an Andres Cruz home run to take the 1-0 lead. Keystone was unable to answer the score, trailing by one heading into the seventh inning of play. The Colonels continued to press the score, knocking in their second run of the contest in the seventh inning. This time though, Keystone responded with two runs of their own, tying the game back up heading into the eighth inning of play. Dee Rice (Spartanburg, S.C./Dorman) earned the first RBI of the game for the home team, sending a ball out to left field, giving Dillion Bird (Westlake, La./Sulphur) a chance to cut the Colonels lead to one. Carlos Pascual (Paterson, N.J./International) earned the second RBI of the inning, as he patiently waited in the batter's box for ball four, walking in Erick Castro (Northampton, Pa./Northampton Area) from third base. 

Wilkes once more regained the lead in the eighth inning, scoring their third run of the contest to take the 3-2 lead into the bottom half of the frame. The Giants exploded on offense in the eighth inning, scoring four runs that would eventually decide the contest. Colson Bennett (Camden, Del./Caesar Rodney) singled to left field, scoring Benny Hess (Reading, Ohio/Reading Community) to tie the game back up. Dee Rice (Spartanburg, S.C./Dorman) once more played hero ball, earning a single that bounced off second base, scoring both Ray Moreta (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield) and Colson Bennett (Camden, Del./Caesar Rodney) for the Giants first lead of the game. Jaxson Monroney (Camden, Del./Caesar Rodney) singled down the left field line, scoring Dee Rice (Spartanburg, S.C./Dorman) for the KC insurance run. 

The Colonels made the ninth inning interesting, scoring their fourth run of the contest, while also leaving a batter on third base. Keystone's ace pitcher Cooper Ryan (State College, Pa./State College Area) cleaned up the remainder of the inning, earning the win for the Giants 6-4.

Keystone pushes their win streak to nine as the team heads on the road for a United East Conference double header showdown against the University of Valley Forge on April 10. Keystone continues their road weekend road trip as they take on Wilson College on April 11 in yet another United East double header.