CHESTER, Pa. (April 2, 2017) - Junior Josh Lafferty (Pottstown, Pa.) hurled a complete game in the opener to help lead the Widener University baseball team to a twinbill sweep of Messiah on Sunday afternoon. Widener won the opener, 8-2, and the nightcap by a 5-1 decision.
 
The Pride came out strong in the opener and tacked on two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Junior Mike Garofolo (Pitman, N.J.) hit a double to left field to advance sophomore Stephen Debellis (Marlton, N.J.) to third base and junior Glen Seymour (Eagleville, Pa.) followed with a two-run single up center field to put the Pride ahead.
 
After a scoreless third inning, Messiah added two tallies to the board with an RBI single from Ben Wilson and an unearned run that was caused by an error on first base. With the score tied at two, Widener regrouped and stormed back by scoring six more runs in the bottom of the fourth.  Senior Bob Barnett (Glenolden, Pa.) started off the scoring with an RBI single to right field. Messiah's pitcher, John Griffitts, then issued a walk with the bases loaded to put the hosts ahead 4-2, and senior Justin Healey (Ocean City, N.J.) capped off the scoring by hitting a two-run single to right field.
 
Lafferty picked up the win on the mound for the Pride. He pitched seven innings, surrendered five hits, two runs, struck out four, and issued one walk. Griffitts suffered the loss for Messiah. He hurled three and one-thirds inning, surrendered five hits, seven runs, struck out one and issued four walks.
 
Widener opened the scoring in the first inning with two runs that were each caused by a fielder's choice with the bases loaded.
 
With senior Kyle McKelvy (Collegeville, Pa.) in full control on the mound, Barnett padded the lead in the fourth inning and made it 4-0 by knocking in two runs on a single to center field. The Falcons answered back in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI double from Dan Wiederrec, however, the hosts then added an assurance marker with an RBI single from DeBellis to give them the 5-1 victory.
 
McKelvy picked up his fourth win on the mound for Widener by throwing six frames. He allowed six hits, struck out three and did not issue a walk. Messiah's Jordan Nichols suffered the loss and dropped to 1-2 after surrendering four runs and four hits in three and one-thirds innings. He struck out one and issued two walks.

Widener, which has won eight straight games, will return to action on Monday, April 3 at 3:30 p.m.at Messiah.