CHESTER, Pa. – The Pride earned their second home win of the season after defeating The College of New Jersey Lions 17-9. Boccio had a monster day with four runs and five RBIs.

The Pride have a 7-11 regular-season record. They are 2-4 playing conference opponents.

HOW IT HAPPENED AGAINST TCNJ
Boccio was 4-4 at the plate. Bryce Fremgen followed behind him with three RBIs. Widener's pitchers allowed 11 hits, but they struck out eight batters.

The Lions attacked first, bringing in three runs in the top of the first. Two singles and a fly-out led to the RBIs. The Pride got out of a bases-loaded situation at the end of the half-inning, thanks to a groundout. Although Widener was not able to cash in in the bottom of the first with bases loaded, they did answer back in the second. A Fremgen two-run home run to left center cut into the deficit. Four batters later, a Kyle Brex triple brought in Ryan Bauerle. The score was tied 3-3. Following a quick top of the third for the Pride defensively, they copied what they did in the previous inning. Widener added three more runs. Aaron Nuble, with two men on base, hit an RBI for Boccio to score. After a hit-by-pitch, a Brex single was good enough for two RBIs. The Lions finished off the Pride on a strikeout looking. Through three, the score was 6-3 Widener.

Widener ended the top of the fourth with a double play on defense to give them momentum. With a runner on first and third, a Boccio sac-fly turned into an RBI. Andrew Yates scored on the play. A quiet fifth inning by both sides led into the sixth.

Another Widener double play on defense was a highlight in the top of the sixth. Widener scored four runs in the sixth to TCNJ's one. The Pride got their runs on three RBI singles and an unearned run on a passed ball. The Lions homered in the top of the seventh to once again cut into the Pride's advantage. However, Boccio smacked a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh to make the score 15-5. Immediately after, the Lions made a pitching change. TCNJ had their most successful offensive push in the eighth, as they put four runs on the board. The Lions hit their own grand slam to cut Widener's lead to 15-9. The Pride added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI double and an RBI single. The lead was too great for the Lions in the ninth. Widener struck out the final three batters to end the game. Widener won 17-9, and they had 20 hits on the day.

UP NEXT
The Pride are back in action on Thursday against the Messiah University Falcons in Grantham, Pa. First pitch is at 3:30 p.m.