DOVER, Del. (March 19, 2017) – Senior Alexis Schengrund (Hillsborough, N.J.) and junior Katie Rabuck (Hegins, Pa.) each picked up a win in the circle while combining for five hits to propel the Widener University softball team to a doubleheader sweep of Wesley on Sunday afternoon at DuPont Field. The Pride won the opener, 11-7, before rallying from four runs down to take the nightcap by a 9-5 decision.
 
Widener scored at least one run in each of the first six innings of the opener and never trailed. Senior Ally Horvath (Chalfont, Pa.) started the game with a bunt single, stole second, teamed up with classmate Nicole Burt (Staten Island, N.Y.) for a double steal and then came home on a fielder's choice play to put the Pride ahead and set the tone.
 
Schengrund, who was also patrolling the circle, helped herself out during a seesaw battle by blasting a two-run double to the power alley in left center to give the visitors a 5-2 advantage in the third. She then doubled again and came home on a Horvath single in the fifth and went yard for the first time of her career to cap a four-run sixth inning. The dinger gave the Pride an 11-5 lead at the time and provided insurance for the team to come away with the victory.
 
In addition to going 3-for-4 from the plate with three hits for extra bases, Schengrund picked up the victory in the circle by striking out nine and allowing five hits and three earned runs over five frames. She also set career highs for hits, doubles and runs batted in. Wesley's Lindsay Siok fell to 6-3 after surrendering 12 hits and 11 runs, including seven earned, over six innings of work.
 
Wesley (10-6) got off to a strong start in the nightcap and built up a 5-1 lead in the first by capitalizing on two Pride errors in the frame. Devin MacKay put the Wolverines ahead by slicing a single down the line in left, and Nrooke Retkowski plated two runs three plays later to put the hosts in control.  Rabuck, however, entered the game in the bottom of the first and hurled four and two-thirds scoreless innings of relief to keep Wesley off the scoreboard.
 
With Rabuck in control of the circle, the Widener offense then came to life and most notably exploded to score seven runs in the fourth to seize the lead. Junior Katie Sterling (Middletown, Del.) smashed a two-run single to left field to put the Pride up for good, and then came home for the final run of the big inning on a hit by freshman Jamie Gosslein (Abington, Pa.). Sophomore Liv Rogers (West Chester, Pa.) then added insurance by homering to left in the final frame.
 
Rabuck earned her first win of the season for Widener by throwing four and two-thirds scoreless frames. She allowed four hits, struck out four and did not issue a walk. She also went 2-for-4 from the plate. Horvath picked up her first save of the season by throwing two shutout innings. She yielded two hits and did not issue any free passes to first. Lily Engel was tagged with the loss after giving up eight runs, including six earned, during three and one-third innings of work.
 
Widener (4-4) is scheduled to return to action on Tuesday, March 21 at 4:00 p.m.