Baseball Splits Two at Elizabethtown

(Game 1) / (Game 2)

Widener got its second 11-inning victory in as many days over Elizabethtown, 4-1, after it saw its 10-game winning streak halted with a 6-4 loss in the opener of the Commonwealth Conference road doubleheader.

Widener in the second inning of game one grabbed a 2-0 lead on an RBI single from junior Paul Shepherd (Secane, PA) and when a fly ball from freshman Bob Barnett (Glenolden, PA) was dropped. The margin ballooned to 4-0 in the fourth with RBI singles in the frame from Barnett and freshman Michael Elfreth (Washington Twp., NJ).

Elizabethtown began its comeback in the fourth with two unearned runs as Tyler Weary's one-out grounder was misplayed, making it 4-2.

Then the floodgates opened in the sixth as two errors from the Pride led to four runs for the Blue Jays and the final margin. Kyle Gable lined an RBI single for a one-run margin and then scored on a wild pitch to tie the game. Pinch-hitter Ryan Haggerty then lined a go-ahead single through the left side and a throwing error off Aaron Rahn's grounder allowed pinch-runner Richy Masciarelli to cross home.

Blackwood, NJ sophomore Joe Santone (4-3) was charged with five runs – three earned – and six hits over 5 1/3 innings for the Pride. Barnett and senior Michael Riverso (Philadelphia, PA) ended with two hits apiece.

Gable and Kyle Fackle had two hits apiece. Nick Gulla (2-2) allowed only three hits over three scoreless innings for the win and Sean Jones recorded the final out for his third save of the year.

Widener in game two scored three times in the top of the 11th inning to grab the lead.

Greg McDonough (Ambler, PA) drew a one-out walk and took second on a single from fellow freshman Justin Healey (Ocean City, NJ). The bases were then loaded when a fielder's choice off the bat of senior Sam Christie (Upper Darby, PA), who had the game-winning single in Thursday's 8-7 11-inning triumph, was misplayed to really ignite the rally.

Widener took the lead when a bunt from Shepherd turned into another error, allowing McDonough to score for a 2-1 lead. Elfreth then made things academic with a two-run single for a 4-1 margin.

Red Hill, PA senior Colin Weiss (5-0), who did not have a complete game until this season, was a workhorse on the mound with his fourth complete game this year. He tossed all 11 innings, yielding an unearned run and four hits with four strikeouts and two walks.

Weiss is the first Widener pitcher to start 5-0 since Brandon McCloskey went 5-0 in 2011.

Riverso got his second four-hit game of the season with Barnett and freshman Nicholas Enos (Williamstown, NJ) getting two hits apiece.

Kristopher Davis pitched great but not great enough for Elizabethtown (14-16, 7-11 CC), allowing three runs – one earned – and 11 hits over 10 1/3 innings with two strikeouts.

Widener (22-10, 13-5) falls into second place in the conference by percentage points behind Alvernia (12-4), which plays a doubleheader Saturday at Albright.

The Pride are back in action Saturday at Neumann for an 11:00 am non-conference tilt in Aston, PA.

Print Friendly Version