FREDERICK, Md. (April 23, 2016) – The Widener baseball team earned a series win over Hood on Saturday to improve to 20-14-1 and 13-5 in the Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth.
After the win on Friday and the series win over Hood, the Pride clinched a MAC Commonwealth tournament berth. It is the third straight year that Widener has recorded a 20 win campaign. The Blue and Gold will appear in the conference tournament for the fourth consecutive year.
Hood drops to 13-23 overall and 5-13 in MAC Commonwealth action. The Pride won game one with a score of 10-7, while the Blazers earned a 4-3 game two decision.
The Blazers opened the scoring of game one in the first inning with four runs on four hits. After Hood added two runs in the second inning, Widener would cut into the lead in the top of the fourth inning.
Greg McDonough (Ambler, Pa.) led the inning off with a single up the middle. The junior would advance to second on a first pitch single through the left side by classmate Bob Barnett (Glenolden, Pa.). Freshman Stephen DeBellis (Marlton, N.J.) would hit both McDonough and Barnett in on an RBI single to right field.
The Blue and Gold would take the lead for good in the top half of the sixth inning as they put five up on the board. Nicholas Enos (Williamstown, N.J.) led the inning off with a double down the right field line.
Enos would score on a double to right center by Kyle Lowery (Norristown, Pa.). DeBellis would score as Glenn Seymour (Eaglesville, Pa.) walked on a wild pitch by Connor Henniges. Michael Elfreth (Washington Township, N.J.) would score Lowery on an RBI ground out.
Barnett would cap off the top of the fourth inning with a two run RBI single up the middle to score Seymour and McDonough.
Junior Kyle McKelvy (Collegeville, Pa.) earned the victory on the mound to improve to 6-1 on the season. The lefty allowed ten hits and seven runs while striking out two and walking a batter in five innings of work on the mound.
In game two, the Pride opened the scoring in the first inning with an RBI ground out by Barnett to score McDonough. Hood would get on the board with three runs in the bottom of the third inning.
The Blazers added a run in the fifth for a 4-1 advantage before Widener would get within one in the sixth inning. McDonough would reach base safely on an error by the third baseman. He would advance a base on a passed ball before scoring on a single to left field by Justin Healey (Ocean City, N.J.).
Barnett would come around to score as Enos reached base on a fielder's choice.
Joe Santone (Blackwood, N.J.) received the loss after six innings on the mound. The lefty allowed four runs, nine hits, walked five and fanned two.
Widener will be back in action on Friday as they host Messiah at 3:30 p.m. Prior to the MAC Commonwealth game, the Blue and Gold will honor the senior class as well as have an honorary guest throw out the first pitch. Widener University President, Dr. Julie E. Wollman, will throw the first pitch prior to the game.
