(box score)
Widener managed to cut a six-run, ninth-inning deficit to one, but left the bases loaded in the inning and suffered an 8-7 defeat to sixth-ranked Johns Hopkins in Chester, PA.
Senior Jason Brooke (Collegeville, PA) drove a one-out, two-run homer to left, trimming the Blue Jays' lead to 8-4 in the bottom of the ninth. After a walk and a single, senior Tom Mahoney (Norristown, PA) roped another round tripper over the left field wall for a one-run game.
Johns Hopkins reliever Ryan Scherich was able to get the second out of the inning on a ground ball to third, but senior Alex Oliver (Lebanon, NJ) followed with a double down the right field line. With a base open, Sean Saverio (Horsham, PA), who already had two hits and an RBI on the day, was intentionally walked and fellow junior Dan Sieracki (Cherry Hill, NJ) drew another two-out walk.
This loaded the bases and put the winning run in scoring position for sophomore Dennis Hocker (Coral Springs, FL), but Scherich got him to ground one back to the mound to end the Widener rally.
The Blue Jays took advantage of two Widener errors in the top of ninth by plating five runs in the frame, all unearned. Zach Small delivered the biggest hit of the inning, a two-run long ball to left making it 8-2.
Widener jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first when Oliver scored from second after second baseman Ryan Zakszeski threw a potential double play ball into left field. The Pride added another unearned run in the third when Saverio laced a single up the middle, scoring senior Tom DeAngelis (Pottstown, PA) who reached on an error to lead off the inning.
Junior Jason Ferrie (Royersford, PA) held Johns Hopkins scoreless through the first five innings, but the Blue Jays finally broke through in the top of the sixth. Jesse Sikorski singled to center with one out, scoring Zakszeski, who was called safe on a very close play at the plate. Small followed with a single, putting runners on first and second. Ferrie then induced a ground ball back to the mound, but his throw to second sailed into center, allowing Sikorski to score the tying run.
Jeff Lynch capped the scoring in the inning with a fielder's choice to give the Blue Jays a 3-2 lead.
Ferrie (1-1) allowed just three runs over eight innings, only one of which was earned.
Saverio, the reigning Commonwealth Conference Player of the Week, went 2-for-4 for the Pride (7-3) to extend his hitting streak to 11 games dating to last season. Oliver and Mahoney also finished with two hits each.
Sikorski finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored for the Blue Jays (3-0). Small, Aaron Borenstein and Anthony Venditti added two hits apiece. Zakszeski and Small also scored two runs each. Alex Eliopoulos (2-0) got the win, striking out seven and allowing just four hits and two runs, neither of which were earned, over 6 2/3 innings.
Widener on Saturday hosts Lyndon State for a doubleheader, beginning at noon.
