Baseball Opens Huge Series vs. Messiah With An 11-Inning Triumph

(box score)

Sophomore Robert Barth (Crofton, MD) pitched great in getting a no-decision and junior Michael Riverso (Philadelphia, PA) had the go-ahead sacrifice fly in the 11th inning for Widener, which left Messiah with a huge 4-2 Commonwealth Conference victory.

In the opener of a crucial three-game series, the Pride (18-19, 10-9 CC) moved into a tie with the Falcons (14-21, 10-9) for fourth place in the conference. Widener needs just one victory in Saturday's noon doubleheader at home against Messiah to clinch a spot in next week's conference tournament.

The Pride took a 4-2 lead in the top of the 11th. Sophomore Matt Scherer (Havertown, PA) roped a one-out triple to left center and scored two batters later when Riverso launched a sacrifice fly to left for a 3-2 margin. Senior Dennis Hocker (Coral Springs, FL), who ended with three hits, followed with an RBI single for a two-run cushion.

The Falcons did not go without a fight in the last of the frame. Derek Drake had a leadoff double to left, Ben Sollenberger reached on an error and both moved up a base on Joseph Saulfley's sacrifice bunt. With the tying runs in scoring position, sophomore reliever Marc Noyalis (Dallas, PA) buckled down and got David Sletta to line into a double play that eliminated Sollenberger for the final.

Barth deserved to get the victory, but will be more than happy to settle with getting the Pride a win. He allowed two runs and four hits over 9 2/3 innings, marking the third time this season he has gone at least nine innings, with four strikeouts and one walk.

Noyalis (2-1) got the win after yielding only one hit over 1 1/3 scoreless frames. He also had a hit, giving him at least one in 27 of his last 28 games and extending his latest hitting streak to 11.

Steven Ridings fired 10 innings for the Falcons, striking out six and allowing two runs – one earned – and six hits. Adam Marshall (0-1) pitched in the 11th for Messiah, which only amassed five hits.

Widener opened the scoring in the top of the fourth inning with the bases empty and two outs. Hocker lined a double to right center and sophomore Josh Everett (Harveys Lake, PA) followed with a grounder misplayed by third baseman Jon Lapp, scoring Hocker for a 1-0 lead.

The margin doubled to 2-0 in the sixth. Junior Sam Christie (Upper Darby, PA) had an infield single to lead off, stole second and scored two batters later when Noyalis continued his scorching play with an RBI single up the middle.

The Falcons got one back in the bottom of the frame for a 2-1 contest. Zach Brubaker singled to right, advanced to third on a pair of groundouts and scored on Paul Mellinger's double to center field.

Widener was two outs from victory in the bottom of the ninth when Messiah tied it, 2-2. Jon Lapp was hit by a pitch, took second on a passed ball and pinch-runner Andrew Eyster scored when Sletta singled through the right side.

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