Baseball Loses First Game Of Series To Alvernia 6-4

(boxscore)

Widener scored four runs between three innings and had two hits in the bottom of the ninth to try to force extra innings, but came up short in today's 6-4 loss to Alvernia in the first of three games in the Commonwealth Conference weekend series.

In the first inning, Sam Christie (Upper Darby, PA) led off with an infield single and took advantage of a wild pitch to advance to second. A pick-off paired with two quick outs ended the top half of the inning.

In the bottom half of the first, Alvernia got the scoring started with two runs on four hits. The first run was classically manufactured, with lead-off man Leon Stimpson reaching first on an infield single and advancing to second by stealing followed by a sacrifice bunt to move him to third and a single up the middle to score the run.

Widener was able to cut the margin in half in the second inning by scoring one and allowing none in the bottom half. Sophomore Marc Noyalis (Dallas, PA) led off the inning and eventually made it to second after being hit by a pitch and going on a wild pitch. A fly ball to right field advanced Noyalis to third and a ground out to second baseman Dustin Stuck scored him to put the Pride on the board before a strike out ended the inning.

The Pride tacked one more run on in the fourth inning after the Crusaders (13-6, 5-2 CC) put a two-out run across the plate in the third with the help of a triple and a single up the middle. To score its second run, Matt Hone (Newtown, PA) reached first on a fielder's choice and took second on his own by stealing. Designated hitter Michael Riverso (Philadelphia, PA) doubled to right-center to bring Hone home.

The remaining three runs for the Crusaders were all unearned. Three errors in the bottom of the fifth committed by the Pride resulted in two runs, and one error in the seventh gave Alvernia its final run of the game.

In the top of the seventh Widener made a run to take the lead, but ultimately fell short. Left fielder Brendan O'Brien (Coatesville, PA) led off with a single through the middle of the infield that resulted in Alvernia making a pitching swap. Shortstop Matt Scherer (Havertown, PA) was first to face new pitcher Cody Smith and doubled to center field to score O'Brien. A ground out to second base moved Scherer to third and Christie put down a bunt to bring him home before a strike out ended the inning.

The remaining innings were scoreless for both teams, resulting in a 6-4 loss for Widener (8-10, 4-3).

Starting pitcher for the Pride Nicholas Moeltner (Orefield, PA) receives the loss after giving up six runs--four earned—over 6 1/3 innings pitched. Alvernia's Aaron Benusis gained his third win of the season after giving up three earned runs over six innings pitched.

Noyalis had a hit single to run his career-best hitting streak to nine games.

Scherer had a day at the plate going 4-for-4, scoring once and bringing in one run. Riverso had two RBI on two hits and Christie went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

For the Crusaders, Chris Gehris tallied four RBI after going 2-for-4 at the plate and teammate Matt Patterson hit 2-for-4 and scored three times.

On Saturday, Widener hosts Alvernia to complete the three-game series with the first game of the doubleheader beginning at noon.

Print Friendly Version