Barton Helps Baseball Shut Down Eastern, 5-2

(box score)

Sophomore pitcher Shawn Barton (Minersville, PA) led Widener to its fourth straight win by defeating Eastern 5-2 on Wednesday in Chester, PA.

Widener (15-9) held Eastern to two runs on six hits and did not allow a single error in the field. The Pride pitching staff struck out six batters and forced the Eagles to ground into three double plays.

Barton put down the Eagles in order in each of the first three innings to earn his first win of the season. Barton finished with five innings on the mound with one earned run and two strikeouts.

In relief, freshman Nick Donovan (Aston, PA) entered in the seventh inning with the bases loaded and one out. Donovan forced a grounder to the shortstop and the Pride was able to convert the double play to end the inning. Donovan pitched 1 2/3 innings with two strikeouts and no hits.

Freshman hurler Joseph Richie (Reading, PA) earned his first save of his collegiate career after pitching a hitless ninth inning. Richie is now the fourth Pride pitcher to earn a save in the season.

On offense, senior Michael Riverso (Philadelphia, PA) singled to right center field to begin the fourth inning. Next up junior Matt Scherer (Havertown, PA) reached first on an error and Riverso advanced to third. Freshman shortstop Nicolas Enos (Williamstown, NJ) then bunted down the right field line to bring home Riverso for the first run of the afternoon.

After a walk from junior Edward Speakman (Chichester, PA), the Pride scored two more runs in the fourth when freshman Alex Bussison (Berlin, NJ) singled up the middle for his first collegiate hit.

The Pride added one run in the fifth inning when Scherer singled up the middle to drive home freshman Bob Barnett (Glenolden, PA) from second base. Barnett is second on the team with 32 runs in the season.

Eastern (4-17) managed two runs on four hits in the sixth inning to pull within 4-2 of the Pride. Eric Rossi went 2-of-4 with an RBI and Joe Grato went 1-of-4 with an RBI.

The Pride added one more for good measure in the seventh inning, when Riverso doubled to left center and was later advanced home on double to right field from Speakman. Riverso finished 3-of-3 on the day with two runs, and Speakman finished 1-of-3 with a run and an RBI.

Widener will be back on the field Thursday at Misericordia in non-conference action at 3:30 pm.

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