Widener Takes Down Lebanon Valley, 5-2, in First Game of Championship

(box score)

Widener defeated Lebanon Valley, 5-2, in opening game of the 2014 Commonwealth Conference Championship Tournament on Thursday evening in York, PA.

The top seeded Pride (29-11) went down early in the contest, but fought back led by senior pitcher Robert Barth (Norristown, PA) to defeat the fourth-ranked Lebanon Valley Dutchmen. Barth threw a complete game on the mound with six strikeouts and only two earned runs. Barth improves to 6-1 on the season with a 2.81 ERA.

Lebanon Valley (20-18) scored one run in the top of the first when Tim Filer doubled down the left field line to bring home Phil Dohner and take a 1-0 lead.

Widener returned the favor with two runs in the third inning highlighted by a triple from junior Paul Shepherd (Secane, PA) to right center field that drove home senior Sam Christie (Upper Darby, PA). Freshman standout Michael Elfreth (Washington Twp, NJ) then nailed a ball to second base that scored Shepherd from third. Shepherd and Christie each finished going 2-of-3 with one run and an RBI.

The Pride added another run in the sixth inning when freshman Bob Barnett (Glenolden, PA) singled up the middle, stole second base, and then was brought home on a single to center field from senior Michael Riverso (Philadelphia, PA).

Widener took control of the game with two more runs in the seventh inning. Freshman second baseman Justin Healey (Ocean City, NJ) hit a sacrifice fly that brought in fellow freshman Nicholas Enos (Williamstown, NJ), followed by an RBI single from Christie on the next at bat.

The Dutchmen added one run in the eighth inning on an RBI triple from Filer, but it was too little too late as the Pride clinched Game One by a score of 5-2.

Widener will be back in action tomorrow at 3:00 pm against the winner of the Alvernia/Messiah game happening tonight.

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