(Game 1) / (Game 2)
Widener fell into an early hole in game one and let a four-run lead in the second contest get away in a Commonwealth Conference doubleheader sweep, 11-4 and 5-4 in eight innings, by Arcadia in Chester, PA.
The Knights (21-7, 8-4 CC) in game one got all the runs they would need in the second inning, plating seven to open the scoring. Leanda Helms hit a two-run homer off the left-field foul pole, Lindsey Henchinski cracked a solo shot that dinged the same pole and Virginia Buechel smashed a two-run long ball to left center.
Buechel ended with four RBI and Brandee Zablotsky had four of Arcadia's 16 hits with Buechel and Jessica Wood rapping three apiece. Kelsey Roberts (11-3) allowed four runs – three earned – and six hits over five innings.
Senior Meg Phillips (Aston, PA) had three hits for the Pride, who ended with eight. Senior Kelsey Shultz (Parker Ford, PA) was charged with seven runs and eight hits over three innings with three strikeouts.
Widener (14-16, 4-6) in game two took a 1-0 lead in the third on an RBI single by sophomore Jess Way (Marlton, NJ). The margin ballooned to 4-0 in the fourth on a run-scoring single from senior Kelly Vogelgesang (Downingtown, PA), an RBI double from sophomore Casey Hargadon (Wallingford, PA) and a run-scoring single by sophomore Jody Salvatore (Williamstown, NJ).
Arcadia closed to 4-2 in the fifth on Henchinski's two-run double to left. In the sixth with the Knights five outs from defeat, Marissa Perez came through with a two-run homer to left for a 4-4 tie.
The Knights in the eighth grabbed a 5-4 lead on a sacrifice fly to center from Corrin Showalter. The Pride got runners on first and third with two out in the bottom of the frame, but Salvatore's line shot was stabbed by Buechel at third base for the final out.
Heather Buriak (1-0) came on in relief, tossing three scoreless innings that included a strikeout for the Knights. Perez ended with three of Arcadia's seven hits.
Phillips, Shultz and Hargadon had two hits apiece. Shultz (10-8) allowed five runs – three earned – and seven hits over eight innings despite seven strikeouts.
Widener on Monday visits Alvernia for a 3:00 pm conference doubleheader in Reading, PA.
