Baseball Takes First Game Of Series Against Albright, 7-4

(boxscore)

Widener put 13 hits together for a 7-4 victory over Albright in game one of the three-game Commonwealth Conference series in Chester, PA.

Widener saw itself down by two after the first inning after Albright's first two batters got on base with a single and a walk and scored on the same fielding error. Widener in the bottom half of the inning had runners left on every base.

In the bottom of the third inning Widener (12-15, 6-7 CC) was able to split the lead in half after shortstop Marc Noyalis (Dallas, PA), who hit 4-for-5 today, hit a one-out double and advanced to third on a throwing error by starting pitcher Kevin O'Neill on a pickoff attempt. A groundout to the second baseman gave the Lions two outs, but also scored Noyalis to put the Pride on the board.

Brendan O'Brien (Coatesville, PA) led off the fifth inning with a right field single. Noyalis hit a hard single that was not handled by the third baseman and shortstop Alex Myers threw the ball away trying to still get the runner out, which allowed Widener to put runners on second and third with no outs. Michael Riverso (Philadelphia, PA) singled to easily score O'Brien and heads-up base running from Noyalis allowed him to score on a throwing error from the center fielder. Riverso scored after a sacrifice bunt moved him to third and a single up the middle from right fielder Alec O'Dell (Edgewood, MD) to give the Pride a 4-2 edge.

Albright (11-13, 3-9) tied the game with the help of two hits and a passed ball to score two earned runs before starting pitcher Robert Barth (Norristown, PA) threw a strikeout and two groundouts to Noyalis.

Widener broke the tie in the bottom of the seventh inning, with Noyalis leading off the inning with a single up the middle and Riverso hitting a double to the right-field corner to force the Lions to bring in reliever Dylan Price. With one out, Price walked O'Dell on five pitches to load the bases and designated hitter Jake Tackett (Collingswood, NJ) singled up the middle to score both Noyalis and Riverso. Third baseman Pat Rodier (Mount laurel, NJ) hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring in O'Dell for the third and final run of the inning.

In the top of the ninth, Albright had runners sitting on second and third with two outs and the tying run up to bat, but Barth threw a groundout to Rodier for the third out to end the game.

Barth (3-3) was credited with the win after pitching his fourth complete game. He gave up four runs -- two earned -- on eight hits with four strikeouts and one base on balls in 38 batters faced. O'Neill (2-3) was given the loss after pitching the first six innings and being credited with six runs -- five earned -- on 11 hits.

Kyle Summers (Mohnton, PA) and Riverso each went 2-for-4 at the plate, with Riverso scoring twice and bringing in two runs. Rodier finished the day 2-for-3 at the plate with one RBI.

Widener will travel tomorrow to Reading, PA to complete the series, with the first of two games beginning at noon.

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