(Game One) /
(Game Two)
Widener scored three times in the seventh inning of game two, but left the bases loaded that included the tying and winning runs in scoring position in a 6-5 Commonwealth Conference loss to Alvernia that following a 17-5 defeat in game one in Chester, PA.
Widener trailed 6-2 entering the bottom of the seventh in the nightcap, but refused to quit. Four of the first five batters in the inning reached base without the aid of a hit. Two walks and two hit batters cut the deficit to 6-3 and loaded the bases, bringing the winning run to the plate with one out.
Tom Mahoney (Norristown, PA) lined a 1-2 pitch to right to make it 6-4, and fellow senior Tom DeAngelis (Pottstown, PA) drove in a run on a fielder's choice to make it a one-run game. A wild pitch put DeAngelis, who represented the winning run, in scoring position. Sophomore Matt Hone (Newtown, PA) drew a two-out walk to load the bases for junior Sean Saverio (Horsham, PA). Saverio had accounted for much of Widener's offense in the doubleheader, but Alvernia reliever Austin Rohrbach struck him out to end the threat.
Missed opportunities were the story of the game for Widener. The Pride left 13 runners on in the contest. They left runners on in six of the seven innings, and left the bases loaded on three different occasions.
Junior Dan Sieracki (Cherry Hill, NJ) got Widener an early lead with an RBI single in the first. The Pride had an opportunity to open a big lead in the second, but Alvernia starting pitcher Mike Weinhold got out of a bases loaded jam.
The Crusaders capitalized in the top of the third, scoring three times to take a 3-1 lead. Five of the first six Alvernia hitters in the inning recorded singles.
Saverio scored an unearned run in the bottom of the inning, his fourth of the day, to get Widener to within one. The Pride loaded the bases again in the fourth, this time with one out, but stranded three more runners, failing to tie the game.
Widener put its first two batters on in the fifth, and after a sacrifice bunt, had the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position once again. But Weinhold was able to get a strikeout and a pop up to get out of trouble.
Alvernia expanded its lead in the top of the sixth. Travis Wrambel drove an RBI double to deep center and Eric Domitrovits made it 5-2 with an RBI bunt single. The Crusaders added a crucial insurance run in the top of the seventh when Chris Ray stole home.
Weinhold (4-0) struck out eight, allowing just one earned run over five innings. Wrambel finished with two hits and two RBIs, and Brian Witkowski and Reid Martin added two hits apiece.
Mahoney had three hits for the Pride, and Sieracki finished with two.
Alvernia scored in every inning of the opener, including multiple runs in four of them. Ray finished with two hits, two runs scored and five RBIs for the Crusaders (25-3, 12-0). Matt O'Neil went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBI, and Leon Stimpson notched two hits and four runs scored. Chuck Nicholas (5-2) recorded the win, striking out nine over six innings.
Widener left 13 runners on base in game one as well, including leaving the bases loaded twice, and two on in each of the last three innings. Sieracki had three hits for the Pride (20-11, 8-7). Saverio went 2-for-2, and sophomore Dennis Hocker (Coral Springs, FL) added two hits. Freshmen Nick Cook (Cranford, NJ) and Kyle Summers (Mohnton, PA) each recorded their first collegiate hits, both of which were RBI singles.
Widener hosted the MAC ATtaCk on Hunger as part of the doubleheader. Donations of canned goods and money were collected to support local food banks. The initiative was instituted last year by the Widener Athletic Training department, and invited all Certified Athletics Trainers (ATC) from the 16 MAC schools to get involved.
Widener on Tuesday travels to Aston, PA to face Neumann in non-conference action, beginning at 3:30 pm.
