STEVENSON, Md. – In a Sunday afternoon doubleheader against the Stevenson University Mustangs, Widener baseball earned a split. Widener won the first game 5-3, but the Mustangs took the second game 7-1.
The Pride are 3-8 in the regular season. They are 1-2 facing conference opponents.
HOW IT HAPPENED AGAINST STEVENSON
Game 1
Five players had one run each for the Pride:
Justin Costanzo,
Kyle Brex,
Bryce Fremgen,
Jon Aman, and
Nick Barenz. Costanzo and
Andrew Yates had two hits each.
Hayden O'Neill went five innings on the mound, allowing four hits and two runs.
Costanzo started the game off with a home run to center field to put the Pride up 1-0. An RBI single by Yates and an RBI double by Fremgen gave the Pride two more runs for a commanding 3-0 first inning. The Mustangs would get a run back in the bottom of the second on an RBI single. Both sides would play good defense in the third, as the only man on base would come from a walk by the Mustangs. After three innings, the score was 3-1 Widener.
In the bottom of the fourth, Stevenson cut into the Pride's deficit. With two outs, an RBI single brought the score to Widener 3-2. The Pride recorded the final out on the next batter. Interestingly, both sides had an identical fifth inning. Each side began with a walk, then a pop-up. Both teams retired the other on a double play. The Pride would see their last two runs in the top of the sixth. A Yates single scored a run while giving Barenz an opportunity to reach second base. A few plays later, Barenz would reach home plate on a groundout. Widener would go on to create good defense in the bottom of the sixth. They recorded an out at home plate on a bases-loaded scenario. Additionally, the Mustangs could not get any of the three runners on base to score in that inning. After six, the Pride led 5-2.
Looking for a spark in the bottom of the seventh, the Mustangs took advantage of some errors by the Pride to score one run. However, a strikeout ended their rally. Widener took the first game 5-3.
Game 2
Anthony Boccio scored the only run for the Pride in the second game. Yates led the way with two hits.
Caleb Horner was the starter on the mound. He allowed two hits and five runs in two innings.
The Pride got on the board in the first inning once again. With two men on base, Yates' single to right field allowed Boccio to score. Widener led 1-0. Despite this, Stevenson countered with their own run in the bottom of the first. A fly-out to center field turned into an RBI. The Pride would put batters in a position to score in the second, but the Mustangs' defense stopped a Widener push. The bottom of the second was the most-damaging inning for Widener, as they allowed four runs. One run was scored on a fielder's choice. A Stevenson double brought in two runners to score. They got the final run of the inning on a steal attempt. The Pride retired the Mustangs on a strikeout looking. After a tough second inning, the Pride bounced back in the bottom of the third to escape a bases-loaded situation. A groundout to shortstop ended the inning. Stevenson was up 5-1 after three.
The Mustangs went on to add one run each in the fourth and fifth innings. After an RBI, and with two men on base, the Pride concluded the Mustangs' attack on a fielder's choice. In the bottom of the fifth,
Tyler Conlan came in to pitch for O'Neill. The Pride intentionally walked a batter to get the bases loaded. Conlan struck out the last two batters to get out of the inning. The bottom of the sixth was similar to the inning before it. The Mustangs left three men on base, but the Pride retired their opponent before any more runs could be scored. However, the Pride were not able to harness momentum for the top of the seventh, recording three outs in four batters. Stevenson won the second game 7-1.
UP NEXT
The Pride continue their four-game road trip with a visit to Neumann University in Aston, Pa. That game is scheduled for Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.
