WASHINGTON, Pa. (May 19, 2016) – The Widener baseball team advanced in the NCAA Mideast Regional Tournament as they defeated Ohio Wesleyan 9-0 on Thursday at the Ross Memorial Park.
Pete Munger would sit the Pride down in order to start the game off. Ohio Wesleyan would get the first hit of the game with an infield single from Justin Dages. A few pitches later, Glenn Seymour (Eagleville, Pa.) would throw the ball down to Kyle Lowery (Norristown, Pa.) at first base and pick-off the shortstop Dages.
Joseph Santone (Blackwood, N.J.) would get the next two batters as he allowed only one hit in the bottom of the first inning. The senior lefty would give up a single to Steven Moore, who would be thrown out by Seymour on an attempted steal two batters later, as the only base runner to reach base.
The Blue and Gold would go down in order until Michael Elfreth (Washington Township, N.J.) reached on a double to right center in the top of the fourth inning. Junior outfielder Greg McDonough (Ambler, Pa.) recorded a sacrifice bunt to third base for the first out in the inning.
Elreth would walk home on an RBI double down the left field line by Bob Barnett (Glenolden, Pa.) as Widener would get the first run on the board. Barnett would score from second on a ground-rule double by Justin Healey (Ocean City, N.J.).
Santone would get two ground outs and a strike out in the bottom of the fourth inning to preserve the 2-0 lead for the Pride.
Widener would get the first two runners on in the top of the fifth inning as Lowery led off with a triple down the right field line. After fouling a few pitches off, Seymour would reach base as he was hit by a pitch. With runners on first and third, Elfreth recorded a bloop single over the third baseman's head to score Lowery.
Both Seymour and Elfreth would advance a base as Barnett worked a walk after forcing Munger into a full-count. The runners were running on a full-count with two outs and Healey battled to force a walk, scoring Seymour from third.
Kevin Zullo would enter the game out of the bullpen to relieve Munger with two outs and the bases full. Nicholas Enos (Williamstown, N.J.) would knock in Elfreth and Barnett on a single to left field as Widener extended its lead to 6-0. On a first pitch swing, Santone was able to get C.J. Tosino to fly out to Barnett in left field. Moore and Strausbaugh would strike out to end the inning as the senior lefty sat the Battling Bishops down in order.
For the second straight inning, Lowery would lead the inning off with a base hit as he recorded a single to left center field. After stealing second base, the sophomore first baseman would advance to third on a fly ball to right by Seymour. Nick D'Alessandro (Williamstown, N.J.) would ground out to third base allowing Lowery to score from third base as Widener tacked on a run for a 7-0 advantage.
The bats for the Battling Bishops would be quieted as Santone retired 13 straight from the second inning to the sixth inning. The senior lefty would allow a lead-off walk Dages but would not allow a run as the Pride escape a bases loaded jam.
Widener would add another run as D'Alessandro knocked in DeBellis on an infield single in the top of the eighth inning. Santone would take the mound in the eighth inning with an 8-0 lead. Tyler Flaherty struck to get Ohio Wesleyan its first hit since the bottom half of the second inning with a single to right field.
The senior would face a challenge as the Battling Bishops had runners on first and third with one out. Santone would strike out his eighth batter as Dages went down swinging and Blatchford was thrown out trying to steal second base on the same play to end the inning. Seymour threw out his second runner of the day.
Healey and Enos each singled for the Pride in the top of the ninth inning, and Brennan Taylor (Maple Shade, N.J.) came on to pinch run for the shortstop. On the first pitch of the at-bat for DeBellis, both Healey and Taylor stole a bag on the double steal. The designated hitter would knock in Healey on a sacrifice fly to right field.
Widener would get the first three batters as Santone earned the complete game shutout. The lefty recorded a season high eight strikeouts. He allowed no runs and four hits with two walks for the complete game victory.
The Blue and Gold will play on Friday at 1:15 p.m. against either Wooster or Randolph-Macon.
