CHESTER, Pa. (April 16, 2016) – The Widener baseball team swept the season series against Albright with the doubleheader victory on Saturday afternoon in Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth action.
The Pride improve to 18-12 -1 and 11-4 in conference action, while the Lions fall to 4-22 and 1-13. Widener took the first game with a score of 7-0, while game two went in favor of the Pride 12-6.
In game one, John Petrongolo (Blackwood, N.J.) opened the scoring with a two-out RBI single up the middle to score Justin Healey (Ocean City, N.J.) from second base. Healey led off the inning with a single up the middle and then advanced to second base on a balk.
Widener would take a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning with the help of two errors by the Lions. Bob Barnett (Glenolden, Pa.) stepped to the plate with one out and two runners on. The junior hit a line drive directly to Joe Suppa, but the second baseman was unable to make the catch.
The error on the play allowed Nick D'Alessandro (Williamstown, N.J.) to score from third, and Nicholas Enos (Williamstown, N.J.) forced Jesse Fikslin to make a bad throw to third base. Enos would score on the overthrown ball by Fikslin.
After advancing on the throw, Barnett would score on an RBI double to center field by Healey.
The Blue and Gold would add another run in the fourth inning with an RBI single to left field by Michael Elfreth (Washington Township, N.J.). The single would score D'Alessandro from second base.
Kyle McKelvy (Collegeville, Pa.) held the Albright batters hitless through the first 3.1 innings. The junior lefty recorded a career high ten strikeouts in the complete game victory. He allowed three hits and one walk on the hill. McKelvy improved to 5-1 on the mound, including a 4-1 record in the MAC Commonwealth.
Widener would score at least one run in every inning but the first frame. The Pride combined for nine hits and three walks, but did not strikeout in the first game of the twinbill.
In game two, the Pride took advantage of early errors by Albright as they took a 2-0 lead after the first inning. Elfreth led the inning off with a double down the right field line.
Enos set to move Elfreth to third base on a sacrifice bunt, but was able to reach base safely as Micah Storms overthrew Joe Suppa, who was cover first on the play. The ball trickled into right field allowing Elfreth to score and Enos to advance to second base. Enos advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Barnett.
Healey reached on an error by Jeff Yordy which allowed Enos to score easily from third base.
Joe Santone (Blackwood, N.J.) was able to get out of an early jam as he retired Albright batters with runners on first and second with only one out. The lefty was able to sit down Yordy looking in the second inning to leave runners on first and second for Albright.
The bottom of the second inning was started off by an infield single by Petrongolo. After a walk to Matthew Guarino (Jackson, N.J.), Glenn Seymour (Eagleville, Pa.) loaded the bases with a single through the right side. D'Alessandro stepped to the plate with no outs and the bases loaded, where he earned a walk to score Petrongolo.
Elfreth would follow the freshman with a full-count walk to give Widener a 3-0 lead. The Pride would add eight runs in the second inning on four hits and one error.
Healey added his 12th run batted in of the series with a double down the right field line. Petrongolo would give the Pride a 10-0 lead with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Santone allowed seven hits, three runs, and two walks, while fanning four in six innings of work on the mound. The lefty improved his record to 3-1 on the season. Elfreth was 2-for-2 with two doubles and an RBI against the Lions in game two. Enos added a hit and three runs batted in with two at-bats.
Healey finished the day 4-for-7 from the plate with four runs batted in and two runs scored. He added two doubles, a walk and a stolen base in the doubleheader sweep.
Widener outscored the MAC Commonwealth opponent this weekend, 33-6. The season sweep against Albright is the second season sweep of a MAC Commonwealth opponent. The Pride swept Lebanon Valley earlier in the season.
The Pride will be back in action on Wednesday as they travel to take on Keystone in La Plume, Pa. First pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m.
