(Game 1) / (Game 2)
Widener gained two Commonwealth Conference victories, a 2-1 nail-biter and a 14-2 crushing, over Arcadia on Tuesday in Glenside, PA.
Widener (9-5, 3-3 CC) narrowly squeaked by the Knights in the opening game, only to put on a hitting display in the second game of the afternoon.
To lead off the first game, freshman Angela Hood (Mullica Twp, NJ) reached base on a hit-by-pitch. Two batters later after Hood advanced to third, sophomore Alie Alkins (Aston, PA) stepped to the plate and bunted the ball back to the pitcher. Hood was able to beat the throw home and take the early lead 1-0.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Arcadia (5-11, 2-2) tied the score after Jessica Wood was sacrificed home by Leanda Helms.
In the seventh and final inning, sophomore Taylor Church (Glen Mills, PA) singled to left center and advanced to second off a bunt from freshman Ally Horvath (Chalfont, PA). Hood then stepped up and hit a ball that the second baseman could not handle, scoring Church off the error.
Conference Player of the Week, freshman Alexis Schengrund (Hillsborough, NJ) was awarded the victory in the circle after pitching a three-hit, nine-strikeout complete game. Schengrund leads the league with a 0.91 ERA and a 7-1 record.
After Schengrund's clutch performance, fellow freshman Salina Allebach (Souderton, PA) dominated the second game to improve to 2-1 on the mound. Allebach pitched all six innings, allowing five hits and only one earned run. Not only a solid pitching performance, Allebach led the Pride offensively as well, going 3-of-4 with two runs and four RBI.
The game began with a couple of scoreless innings, before Widener took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third when Alkins bunted Hood home from third.
Hood returned in the fourth inning to hit a two-run double to center field to increase the Pride lead. The lead off batter, Hood went 2-of-3 with two walks, two runs and three RBI in the second contest.
Widener added four more runs in the fifth inning and six runs in the sixth inning to take control of the second game.
Freshman outfielder Liz Antonucci (Nesconset, NY) went 2-of-4 with three runs and two RBI, and Church went 2-of-3 with two runs and one RBI in the contest.
Widener returns home Wednesday to face off against non-conference opponent Penn State Brandywine, beginning at 4:00 pm.
