(Game 1) / (Game 2)
Senior Lauren Brubaker (Newtown Square, PA) lined a two-run double in the top of the seventh inning of game one, lifting Widener to a 3-2 Commonwealth Conference win at Albright that preceded a 10-1 triumph in Reading, PA.
Trailing 2-1 entering the top of the seventh inning in game one, Widener mounted its charge. Freshman pinch-hitter Jess Way lined a one-out single and freshman pinch-runner Jody Salvatore (Williamstown, NJ) reached second on a single from senior Caitlin Callahan (Franklin Square, NY).
Brubaker stepped in the box and followed with arguably the biggest hit of the season to date, lining her go-ahead smash to left for a 3-2 lead for Widener (26-13, 8-6 CC).
Senior Kim Dougherty (Belle Mead, NJ) got the side in order in the bottom of the seventh to nail down the victory. Dougherty (10-5) allowed two runs – one earned – and four hits over seven innings with five strikeouts.
Brubaker and junior Astyn DiNorscia (Parkersburg, PA) each had two hits.
Jaime Weckesser (2-12) permitted three runs – two earned – and eight hits over seven innings with six strikeouts for the Lady Lions (7-27, 2-12). Kiersten Gilfoy had two hits.
Widener in game two made things much easier with a five-run third inning for a 5-0 lead. Junior Kelly Vogelgesang (Upper Darby, PA) scored on an error, senior Steph Connolly (Aston, PA) clubbed a three-run homer and DiNorscia added an RBI single.
Connolly's home run extended her hitting streak to 12 games. She also reached 54 hits this season, breaking the previous Widener single-season record of 53 set by Krista Cesarine in 2006.
Dougherty and Vogelgesang ended with three hits apiece, helping the Pride finish with 14. Parker Ford, PA junior Kelsey Shultz (9-7) allowed one run and five hits over six innings.
Dana Parolari (2-10) surrendered five runs – three earned – and seven hits over three innings for the Lady Lions. Weckesser got two hits.
Widener clinched its third straight berth in the conference tournament and will be either the number three or four seed. The tournament begins next Friday in Annville, PA.
