Baseball Drops 5-2 Decision to Lebanon Valley

(box score)

Widener fell to Commonwealth Conference foe, Lebanon Valley, 5-2 on Monday in Annville, PA.

Widener (10-6, 4-2 CC) jumped to an early lead with two runs in the top of the first inning. Freshman infielder Michael Elfreth (Washington Twp., NJ) led off with a single to right field, followed by a walk from senior Michael Riverso (Philadelphia, PA). Junior catcher Edward Speakman (Chichester, PA) then stepped up and hit a two-run triple to right-center field.

Lebanon Valley (12-6, 4-2) tied the score in the bottom of the third when Zack Smith hit a triple down the right-field line that brought home two runs. Three batters later, Mike Specht singled to left field that drove home the leading run. The Dutchmen scored once more in the sixth and again in the ninth to widen the gap.

In the top of the ninth, the Pride nearly staged a comeback when junior Matt Scherer (Havertown, PA) and freshman Bob Barnett (Glenolden, PA) advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. Speakman stepped to the plate with two outs, drove the count to 2-2, hit the ball hard, but the Lebanon Valley second baseman was able to make the catch to end the game.

With the defeat, the Pride lose the season series to the Dutchmen 2-1. Both teams are ranked second in the conference with Lebanon Valley holding the head-to-head advantage.

Elfreth led the Pride at the plate, going 3-of-4 with a walk. Elfreth, on the season, leads the team with 29 hits, a .441 batting average and a .542 on-base percentage.

Riverso had a solid game, going 1-of-3 with two walks and a run. Riverso continues to lead the Pride with 19 RBI and 16 walks.

Senior righthander Glenn Stanners (Brookhaven, PA) began the game on the mound, pitching 5 1/3 innings with two strikeouts. Stanners falls to 1-2 on the season.

Kyle McKelvy (Collegeville, PA) and sophomore Kevin Scisorek (Hillsborough, NJ) each saw action in relief. McKelvy struck out two batters over two innings.

Widener returns to action Wednesday at Neumann, beginning at 3:30 pm.

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