CHESTER, Pa. (April 22, 2016) – The Widener baseball team inched closer to clinching a spot in the Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth baseball tournament with a 3-2 victory over Hood on Friday afternoon.
Widener improves to 19-13-1 overall and 12-4 in the conference, while Hood falls to 12-22 and 4-12 in MAC Commonwealth play.
The Blazers opened the scoring in the top of the first inning with an RBI ground out by the number three hitter Brooks Warrenfeltz.
Widener would earnt he run back in the bottom of the third inning a single to left field by Michael Elfreth (Washington Township, Pa.). The single would get by the left fielder, Chris Shriver to allow Cory Snyder (Kintnersville, Pa.) from second base.
Josh Lafferty (Pottstown, Pa.) and Jake Franke would each allow only four hits through six innings. Franke would be pulled from the game prior to the bottom of the seventh inning for Connor Henniges.
Franke would allow four hits, walk one and strike out two for the no-decision on the mound.
With one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, Justin Healey (Ocean City, N.J.) reached on an error by Tyler Cook. The overthrown ball by the shortstop allowed the Healey to advance to second.
The junior would advance to third on a single by Nicholas Enos (Williamstown, N.J.). Enos would move to second on a stolen base. Both would score to give Widener 3-1 on an RBI single up the middle by freshman Nick D'Alessandro (Williamstown, N.J.).
Lafferty grabbed the ball to take the mound in the top of the ninth inning. Dylan Johnson led the top of the ninth inning off with a double to the left field corner. Johnson would score on a single to left field by Nathan Kessler, but Kessler was thrown out by Joseph Addvensky (Milford, Pa.) to end the game. He tried to stretch the single into a double before Addvensky threw a rocket from the left field corner.
The righty would allow six hits, two runs and strike out six for the complete game victory. Lafferty improves to 7-2 on the year.
Widener and Hood would combine for 13 hits and five runs in the pitchers dual. The Blue and Gold improve to 9-1-1 on its home field.
The Pride will be back in action on Saturday as they look to take the season series from Hood. First pitch for the MAC Commonwealth doubleheader is slated for 12 p.m. at Harry Grove Stadium in Frederick, Md.
