Widener scored in each of the first six innings and held on for a 16-11 victory over Washington (MD) in Chester, PA.

 

Widener put up three crooked numbers in the first three frames to take an 11-0 lead after three innings. Sophomore Max McCarthy (Deptford, PA) delivered the big blow in a three-run first, lining a two-out, two-run double to right center. Junior Dan Sieracki (Cherry Hill, NJ) added two more with a two-out, two-run single to left center in the second.

 

The Pride crossed the plate six times in the third to break open the game. McCarthy and sophomore Dennis Hocker (Coral Springs, FL) opened the inning with back-to-back doubles.   Four batters later, senior Alex Oliver (Lebanon, NJ) brought a run home with a bases loaded walk. Junior Sean Saverio (Horsham, PA) followed with a two-run single, Sieracki recorded a sacrifice fly and senior Jason Brooke (Collegeville, PA) capped the scoring in the inning with a two-out, RBI single through the left side.

 

Washington got on the board in the top of the fourth, scoring on a double play, but Widener came right back with a run in the bottom on an RBI single from senior Tom DeAngelis (Pottstown, PA), making it a 12-1 ballgame.

 

The Shoremen kept their offense going, scoring two more in the fifth, and adding another in the sixth, but just could not manage to slow down the Widener offense. Sophomore Matt Hone (Newtown, PA) got the Pride another run in the bottom of the fifth on a fielder's choice. Saverio drove in his fourth run of the day on a ground out in the sixth, and freshman Andrew Gehringer (Boyertown, PA) made it a 16-4 game with a two-out, two-run double to left center, the first hit of his collegiate career.

 

With three runs in the sixth, Widener scored in its ninth consecutive inning, going back to the final three innings of its win at Elizabethtown on Tuesday, and scored multiple runs in six of the nine frames.

 

Washington made it a 16-7 game with three runs in the eighth, highlighted by a two-out, two-run double from Liam Aquino. After holding Widener scoreless in the bottom, the Shoremen again trimmed their deficit when Sean Connole and Aquino added two-run singles to cut Widener's lead to five in the top of the ninth. Sophomore Michael Bonagura (Somerdale, NJ) then came on in relief with two on and two out, and walked the first batter he faced, putting the tying run in the on-deck circle. But he was able to strike out Lucas DiFabbio to end the threat.

 

Sophomore Brandon McCloskey (Belford, NJ) allowed just one earned run over five innings for the win. He improved to 5-0, winning in his fifth straight appearance to open the season. DeAngelis, Sieracki, Gehringer, McCarthy and Hocker all had two hits each for the Pride (16-6).

 

Connole had three hits and three RBIs for the Shoremen (11-8). Aquino went 2-for-2 with four RBIs. Washington had 11 batters record hits.

 

Widener on Friday hosts Albright in Middle Atlantic Conference play, beginning at 3:30 pm.