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Despite Widener providing late-inning heroics, it still was dealt a tough 6-5, 13-inning loss by Misericordia in Chester, PA.
Down 5-2 in the bottom of the eighth, Widener (6-6-1) cut the deficit to two on a fielder's choice RBI from freshman Sean Saverio (Horsham, PA). Then in the ninth, freshman Dan Sieracki (Cherry Hill, NJ) continued his torrid play with a two-run homer for a 5-5 tie and his fourth long ball of the season.
Sieracki, who had two home runs and seven RBI in game two Saturday against Eastern, is 7-for-15 in his last three games with 11 RBI.
But Misericordia (9-6) found a way in the top of the 13th. Nate Newman lined a one-out single and promptly stole the next two bases on consecutive pitches. Without hesitating on the next offering, he charged home on a suicide squeeze and scored on a bunt single from Andrew Yashinski.
Patrick Clark got the win in relief, tossing five scoreless innings and yielding just four hits and one walk. Newman had four hits with Mike D'Amara posting three and three RBI for the Cougars, who amassed 18 hits. Jamie Philippi pitched great in the starting roll, allowing only two runs and five hits over seven innings with no walks.
Sieracki ended with three hits and three RBI. Sophomore Kevin Culbert (Brookhaven, PA) gave up only four runs – one earned – over six innings and freshman Rick Kazigian (West Chester, PA) tossed six strong relief frames by yielding only one run.
Widener is home Thursday against Drew, beginning at 3:30 pm.
