(Game 1) / (Game 2)
Sophomore Kelsey Shultz (Parker Ford, PA) again was on her game in the circle, helping Widener notch a 1-0 Commonwealth Conference triumph at Arcadia following a tough 4-3 loss in the opener in Glenside, PA.
Shultz (8-3) notched her third shutout of the season and eighth complete game, both team highs. In posting her third straight win and seventh in the last eight decisions, Shultz gave up just four hits with three strikeouts over seven innings.
The Pride (15-11, 4-2 CC) finally gave her run support in the top of the seventh inning. Senior Stephanie Caulford (Vineland, NJ) walked and was lifted for sophomore pinch-runner Kelly Vogelgesang (Upper Darby, PA). Senior Rachel O'Leary (Coatesville, PA) singled and an error by pitcher Kelsey Roberts allowed Vogelgesang to score.
O'Leary and Mitchell ended the game with two hits apiece.
Roberts was charged with an unearned run and one hit with two walks over one relief inning for the Knights (18-4, 4-4).
Widener in game one scored three times in the top of the sixth inning for a 3-3 tie. Caulford lined an RBI double, sophomore Meg Phillips (Aston, PA) had a run-scoring single and junior Caitlin Callahan (Franklin Square, NY) added an RBI groundout.
But with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Jaime Bee won it with a two-out, walk-off home run.
Belle Mead, NJ junior Kim Dougherty (6-6), gave up four runs and nine hits over 6 2/3 innings despite six strikeouts. Caulford finished with two hits.
Jessica DeFluri pitched a perfect seventh inning for the win.
Widener on Tuesday faces a big test at Messiah for a league doubleheader, beginning at 3:00 pm in Grantham, PA.
