Baseball's Win Streak Snapped by Ohio Northern, 8-6

(box score)

Widener's four-game winning streak ended with an 8-6 loss to Ohio Northern in Fort Myers, FL on Thursday night.

Widener trailed 5-0 after the first inning, before a rain delay pushed the morning game into the afternoon. When the field dried, Ohio Northern (3-2) continued to pile on by scoring two more runs in the fourth inning.

Behind 7-0, Widener (5-2) began a comeback by scoring four runs in the next three innings. Freshman Michael Elfreth (Washington Twp, NJ) began the fifth inning with a single to center field. Three batters later, senior Michael Riverso (Philadelphia, PA) hit a bullet into center field to drive home Elfreth. Finishing the day 3-for-6, Elfreth led the Pride with two runs and one stolen base.

In the sixth inning, freshman Justin Healey (Ocean City, NJ) led off with a double to left field, followed by a single from junior Paul Shepherd (Secane, PA). In the next at-bat, Healey was brought home off a bunt from senior Sam Christie (Upper Darby, PA) down the first-base line. Widener added one more when junior Josh Everett (Harveys Lake, PA) singled to second base to drive home Shepherd.

Riverso added one more in the seventh inning for the Pride after a fielding error by Ohio Northern. Riverso went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

The seventh inning ended after Ohio Northern added one run to make the score 8-4. In the top of the eighth inning, Elfreth hit a single and then was driven home on an Everett triple to deep center field. After an error on the next pitch, Everett scored to decrease the lead to two runs. Everett came off the bench to go 3-for-5 with two RBI, one run and a stolen base.

Widener finished the eighth inning with two men left on base and one hit away from tying the game.

On the mound, relief pitchers freshman Donovan Davis (Wallingford, PA) and sophomore Joe Santone (Blackwood, NJ) helped keep the game in reach for the Pride. Davis, in his first collegiate outing, pitched 3 1/3 innings with three strikeouts and two earned runs. Santone went 2 1/3 with one strikeout and surrendering only one run.

Widener closes the Florida trip Friday against Dominican (IL), starting at 10:00 am.

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