Baseball Rallies in the Sixth Inning For 9-6 Triumph Over PSU Abington

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Widener's bats woke up in the sixth inning to the tune of five runs in a 9-6 home triumph over Penn State Abington.

Widener (15-16) entered the decisive frame down 5-3 before things began to change. Junior Michael Riverso (Philadelphia, PA) scored on a wild pitch to make it a one-run game and another wild toss sent the go-ahead runners in scoring position. Freshman Pat Rodier (Mount Laurel, NJ) took advantage of this with a two-run single to center for a 6-5 Widener lead, its first of the game.

The Pride were not done as senior Brendan O'Brien (Coatesville, PA) lined out for a sacrifice fly that scored Rodier for a 7-5 game. Sophomore Marc Noyalis (Dallas, PA) then laced a single was misplayed by left fielder Jess Goldstein, allowing junior Kyle Summers (Mohnton, PA) to cross home for an 8-5 contest.

The comeback would not have been possible without the pitching of Blackwood, NJ freshman Joseph Santone (1-0) who tossed 6 2/3 solid relief innings for his first collegiate win. He struck out four and allowed just three runs – one earned – and six hits in a great effort.

"Joe did an outstanding job coming out of the bullpen and keeping us in the game," Widener coach Mike LaRosa said. "He had great command of all three of his pitches, which allowed him to work down in the strike zone and keep their hitters off balance. For Joe to be able to give us 6 2/3 innings was huge, as it allowed us to give our bullpen a break. Now we are able to go into this weekend with our entire pitching staff well rested."

Junior Glenn Stanners (Brookhaven, PA) got his second save of the year, yielding just two hits in the ninth inning. Noyalis had two hits and is batting 14-for-22 with seven RBI over his last five contests since having his 16-game hitting streak snapped.

Mike Kerns did all he could with four hits and two RBI for the Nittany Lions (17-16). Sean McNeil was saddled with the loss after permitting three runs – one earned – and two hits over 1/3 of an inning.

Widener opens a crucial three-game series at Elizabethtown on Friday, starting at 3:30 pm. The Pride are tied with Messiah for fourth place in the conference at 8-7 and Elizabethtown is sixth at 6-9.

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