YORK, Pa. (May 6, 2017) - The Widener University baseball team revived themselves after game one and advanced in the MAC Commonwealth tournament as they defeated Lebanon Valley, 8-6, in game three on Saturday afternoon at Peoplesbank Park.
 
Senior Mike Elfreth (Washington Township, N.J.) gave Widener the lead early in the first inning by hitting a sacrifice fly to left field with the bases loaded to plate senior Greg McDonough (Ambler, Pa.). Mike Pugsli homered out of left field to tie the game 1-1 in the fourth. The Pride then quickly regained the lead with an RBI single from senior Justin Czypryna (Roxbury, N.J.) in the bottom of the frame. 
 
After a bunt from senior Nick Enos (Williamstown, N.J.) advanced senior Greg McDonough to third, sophomore Stephen DeBellis (Marlton, N.J.) would walk on four pitches to load the bases and McDonough reached home on a ground out for a run in the fifth. 
 
In the following frame, Mike Kiesling singled through the left field to bring in a run for Lebanon Valley and cut into the Pride's lead. The Dutchmen would then threaten Widener with two on base and two outs. Senior pitcher Kyle McKelvy (Collegeville, Pa.) was able to get out of the inning by sitting the next batter down on five pitches.
 
Widener would add two runs to their lead before a rain delay in the bottom of the sixth when McDonough hit an RBI single and Enos doubled to center field to plate McDonough. After the two hour delay, DeBellis came out strong and hit an RBI double down the left field line to close out the scoring in the sixth. 
 
Lebanon Valley attempted a come back in the eighth inning by tacking on four runs, however, Widener was able to maintain the lead and put an end to the hitting brigade with a double play for the third out.
 
McKelvy picked up the victory on the mound and improved his record to 5-4. He pitched six innings, surrendered two runs, four hits, struck out two, and issued one walk. Elliot Snyder went in the ninth inning and was credited with the save. Joshua Marcelli suffered the loss. He hurled five and two-thirds innings, surrendered nine hits, six runs, struck out four and issued three walks.

The Pride will return to action at Peoplesbank Park on Sunday, April 7 at 12 p.m. as they take on the losing team in tonight's game between Alvernia and Arcadia.