CHESTER, Pa. (Mar. 24, 2015) – Behind a strong offensive outpouring, the Widener softball team swept its opening conference doubleheader against Arcadia on Tuesday afternoon by scores of 10-6 and 4-3.

Arcadia (6-4, 0-2 CC) kick-started the afternoon's scoring the first chance it had with two first-inning runs in Game One.  Widener (7-1, 2-0 CC) answered right back with four in the bottom half of the frame on a Knight fielding error, an RBI single off the bat of junior right fielder Heather Forward (Philadelphia, Pa.), a wild pitch, and an RBI groundout by sophomore left fielder Liz Antonucci (Nesconset, N.Y.).

After both squads added a tally in the second, Arcadia knotted the score at 5-5 in the top of the third after three consecutive singles and a groundout pushed two runs across the plate.  That would be as close as the visitors would come in the game as the Pride put up a five spot in the bottom of the fourth inning on four hits and an Arcadia error.  Senior first baseman Carissa Harris (Douglassville, Pa.), Antonucci, and junior catcher Taylor Church (Glen Mills, Pa.) all notched RBI base knocks in the frame.

The Knights tacked on a score in the top of the sixth on an RBI double by second baseman Sarah Gunia, but it was not enough as the Pride secured the 10-6 victory.

Sophomore hurler Alexis Schengrund (Hillsborough, N.J.) improved to 4-0 in the circle, tossing six innings and allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits and two walks while fanning four. 

Erin Wilson was saddled with the loss, dipping to 2-3 on the season as she gave up 10 runs (four earned) on 11 hits and two walks with five strikeouts.

Game Two was a much closer battle.  The home squad opened with a 2-0 lead as Harris and Forward registered RBI singles through the infield in the bottom of the first inning.  The Knights fought back, taking a 3-2 lead in the top half of the next frame as pitcher Laura Christine singled to center to score catcher Sarah Quigley and shortstop Tori Zaccaria followed in the next at bat with a two-run shot over the fence in left center.

The blue and gold retook the lead in the bottom of the fourth as sophomore third baseman Angela Hood (Mullica Twp., N.J.) drilled a single through the left side, bringing Church and freshman second baseman Lauren DelRomano (Broomall, Pa.) around to score.

Sophomore Ally Horvath (Chalfont, Pa.) earned the win on the rubber to improve to 3-1 on the season.  She tossed a complete game seven-hitter, surrendering three runs with no walks and notching four strikeouts.

Registering the loss was Christine (1-1) as she allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits and one walk in 3.2 innings of work.

Horvath led the way at the plate, going 4-for-8 with two runs scored.  Antonucci added a three-hit performance, knocking in two and scoring twice along the way. 

The Pride are right back at it on Wednesday as they host Penn State Brandywine for a twinbill with play set to begin at 4 p.m.