Ninth-Inning Rally Comes Up Short for Baseball at No. 11 Rowan

(box score)

Widener got an early lead, gave up five straight runs and then mounted a three-run rally in the top of the ninth inning that just fell short in a 6-5 loss at No. 11 Rowan in Glassboro, NJ.

With the first NCAA regional rankings set to be released Thursday, Widener (23-11) was looking to make a statement against the perennial power. But the rally came up empty for only the Pride's second loss in their last 14 games.

The Profs (25-7) scored three times in the last of the second inning to take the lead for good, 3-1. Nick Krieger lined an RBI double down the left-field line to score Stephen Petrillo before Rich Powelson crossed home on a throwing error for a 2-1 margin. Ryan Williams, two batters later, lined a run-scoring single to double the lead.

Mark Benak's then broke the Pride's back on three occasions to help the Profs. The first two came when he lined an RBI double in the fourth to make it 4-1 and then added a run-scoring single in the sixth for a four-run margin.

Senior Michael Riverso (Philadelphia, PA), the reigning Commonwealth Conference Player of the Week, brought Widener within 5-2 in the seventh with an RBI single that scored freshman Bob Barnett (Glenolden, PA). But Rowan restored the four-run lead in the eighth when Benak again came through with a run-scoring single.

The Pride more than made things interesting in the ninth. The Profs conceded a run on Barnett's fielder's choice for an RBI before freshman Nicholas Enos (Williamstown, NJ) had a two-out infield single that scored Barnett for a 6-4 game. Freshman pinch-hitter Greg McDonough (Ambler, PA) followed with an RBI single that allowed Riverso to cross home for a one-run game.

Carlos Ruiz then was inserted on the mound for Rowan and he got freshman Justin Healey (Ocean City, NJ) on a groundout to end it.

Riverso had three hits to run his hitting streak to six games with Enos getting two RBI. Brookhaven, PA senior Glenn Stanners (3-4) was charged with five runs – three earned – and 11 hits over seven innings for the Pride.

Williams and Benak had three hits apiece for Rowan. Andrew Lysy held on for the win, striking out seven and allowing one run and eight hits over seven innings. Ruiz' save was his fifth of the season.

Widener is back on the road Wednesday at Penn State Abington, starting at 3:30 pm.

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