Baseball Starts Off With a Bang, 18-2 Over Gallaudet

(box score)

Widener began its 2014 season with a conquering 18-2 defeat of Gallaudet in Washington, DC on Saturday.

After a fourth-place finish in the Commonwealth Conference in 2013, Widener returned with a vengeance to Hoy Field, home of the Gallaudet University Bison.

After a scoreless first inning, junior Michael Rytlewski (Brick, NJ) advanced to second on a throwing error by the Bison pitcher. Fellow junior Paul Shepherd (Secane, PA) then singled to left field, allowing Rytelewski to round third and score the opening run of the season. Rytelewski scored three times for the Pride, to go along with four hits and four RBI.

The Pride (1-0) opened the flood gates in the third inning by scoring four runs on four hits. With the bases loaded and no outs, senior Michael Riverso (Philadelphia, PA) singled through the right side to bring in two runs. Rytelewski then singled to bring home a third run, followed by Shepherd with a triple and another RBI. Shepherd led the Pride with five RBI's and five hits on only five at bats. Riverso had three RBI and two runs.

Three innings later, freshman Bob Barnett (Glenolden, PA) led off with a double down the left line. Riverso then singled up the middle to bring home Barnett for the first of three runs in the sixth inning. Barnett led the Pride with four runs on six at bats.

Widener's best offensive inning came in the seventh, when freshman Michael Elfreth (Washington Twp, NJ) scored off of a single from junior Matt Scherer (Havertown, PA), followed by four more runs for the Pride. Elfreth scored twice on two hits and Scherer scored twice and brought in one more.

The Pride added four more in the eighth inning to close the book on the Bison (1-1).

After a second-team all-conference selection in 2013, junior Robert Barth (Norristown, PA) returned to the mound for the Pride. Barth (1-0) pitched seven innings, allowing only three hits and one run in the seventh inning. The Widener ace posted three strikeouts and no walks after facing 23 batters.

Senior relief Colin Weiss (Red Hill, PA) pitched the eighth inning and put down the Bison in order on three strikeouts. Fellow senior Glenn Stanners (Brookhaven, PA) pitched a one-run ninth inning to conclude the opening victory of the season.

Danny O'Donnell (0-1) was tagged for six runs -- two earned -- and eight hits over four innings for Gallaudet.

Widener's doubleheader Sunday vs. Ramapo is postponed. The Pride will next play a doubleheader on Saturday, March 1 in Fort Myers, FL against Illinois College as part of the Gene Cusic Classic.

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