Baseball Upends La Roche, 8-1, in its NCAA Tournament Opener

(box score)

Widener raced to an early lead and was on cruise control from that point forward en route to its ninth straight win, 8-1 over La Roche to open the NCAA Tournament Mideast Regional in Marietta, OH.

Widener for the 15th time this season scored in the first inning, plating three runs in the bottom of the frame. It also marked the 26th time this year the Pride scored first.

Freshman Michael Elfreth (Washington Twp., NJ) began things with a leadoff single for his 65th hit of the year, breaking the single-season school record he shared with Sean Saverio (2010). After being sacrificed to second by freshman Bob Barnett (Glenolden, PA), senior Michael Riverso (Philadelphia, PA) ripped an RBI double to plate Elfreth for the game's first run.

Junior Matt Scherer (Havertown, PA) was hit by a pitch to send freshman Nicholas Enos (Williamstown, NJ) to the plate. Enos lined a single to center that scored Riverso and a poorly throw ball by the center fielder allowed Scherer to reach third. The catcher then threw the ball into left field, permitting Scherer to cross home for a 3-0 margin.

The Redhawks got one run back in the last of the second for a 3-1 deficit. Colin Feikles got a leadoff single and scored two batters later on a deep triple to right-center field by John Watson.

Widener got that run back in the third when Scherer again made his presence felt, launching a home run to left field. His team-leading third long ball of the year and fourth career gave the Pride a 4-1 lead.

The Pride slugged their way to two more runs thanks to some great at-bats in the fifth inning for a 6-1 margin. After Barnett's leadoff single, Scherer hit two "home runs" foul before lining a double down the left-field line to put runners on second and third. Enos followed with a sacrifice to score Barnett and freshman Greg McDonough (Ambler, PA) legged out a two-out infield single to plate Scherer.

Enos got his third RBI of the game in the seventh with a single through the left side, scoring Scherer, and wild pitched was uncorked by La Roche reliever Ryan Fennell in the eighth for an 8-1 margin.

Scherer had two hits and four runs with Enos, Christie and Shepherd all getting two hits. Norristown, PA junior Robert Barth (7-1) was in complete control for his third straight win, yielding just one run and seven hits over nine innings for his fourth complete game of the season.

Fielkes had three hits and Cole Lentz was tagged for seven runs – six earned – and 10 hits over seven innings for La Roche.

Widener (32-11) advances to the winners bracket to face No. 24 Marietta on Thursday at 4:30 pm. The Pride are making their seventh appearance in the NCAA Tournament and are playing their first such game in Ohio since 1977.

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