(box score)

Widener's first game as Commonwealth Conference champions did not go so well in a 14-3 loss to Gwynedd-Mercy.

Freshman Dennis Hocker (Coral Springs, FL) got two of eight hits for the Pride (25-12).  Brookhaven, PA sophomore Mike Pappas (2-3) was charged with six runs and seven hits over 2 2/3 innings.

Scott Carroll, Nick Goetz and Josh Martin each rapped three hits for the Griffins (23-13).  Jim Myarick (5-3) permitted one hit over one scoreless inning.

Widener was coming off four straight victories in elimination games to win its first Commonwealth Conference championship and first league crown of any kind since taking the Middle Atlantic Conference in 1999.

The NCAA Tournament selection show is Sunday and the tournament begins Wednesday, May 19.