ARLINGTON, Va. – Despite seven runs combined between both games on Sunday against the Marymount University Saints, the Pride were not able to claim a victory. Marymount won the first game 10-6 and the second game 2-1.
The Pride sit at 2-6 in the regular season. They have yet to see a conference opponent.
HOW IT HAPPENED AGAINST MARYMOUNT
Game 1
Brandon Robinson led the Pride in the first game with two runs.
Kyle Brex had three RBIs. Aiden O'Brien got the start on the mound. In 1.2 innings, he allowed five hits and seven runs.
Widener started the doubleheader with a run in the first inning. A
Nick Barenz single allowed Robinson to get the Pride on the board. However, the Saints countered with four runs in the bottom of the first. Three of those runs came on a home run to right field by Ryan Cuadros of the Saints. Marymount added four more runs in the second inning. Cuadros proceeded to hit another three-run shot, this time to left field.
Hayden O'Neill, who came in relief of O'Brien, struck out the final batter of the inning. While the Pride had a chance to score in the third inning due to some Marymount errors, they were unsuccessful. Their defense, however, held their opponent to a quick, scoreless inning to end the third. The score was 8-1 Marymount.
To begin the fourth inning,
Justin Costanzo reached first base after being hit by a pitch. He eventually reached third on an
Andrew Yates double. Brex's single would allow two runs to score. After a
Bryce Fremgen walk with bases loaded, the Pride continued logging points. A Barenz single brought Robinson home again, but that was the last score of the half-inning. The Pride trailed 8-5. Despite Widener attempting to catch up to Marymount, the Saints were not done scoring. They added two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Two singles in a row brought in two runners, bringing Marymount's total to 10 runs. Both teams played solid defense in the sixth. The score at the end of six was Marymount 10-5.
Needing instant offense in the top of the seventh inning, the Pride started things off with a Barenz single. Widener would load the bases once again, scoring a run on a walk. However, a strikeout on the next batter would end the rally for the Pride. They fell to the Saints 10-6.
Game 2
Ian Kauffman recorded the Pride's lone run of the second game. The Pride had four hits, with one each coming from Kauffman, Brex, Costanzo, and
Anthony Boccio.
Kyle Laing, who started on the mound, allowed one hit and one run in 1.1 innings.
The Pride got a few batters on base in the first inning, but they were unable to capitalize due to a double play by Marymount's defense. Widener responded with three groundouts on defense to end the first inning. Kauffman homered to right field in the top of the second to give the Pride an early 1-0 lead. Neither team would get too far ahead in the third inning, as the defenses made strong plays. The score after three innings was still 1-0 Widener.
The fourth, fifth, and sixth innings once again showed that defense was going to win the game. The Pride's offense was stifled for the majority of those innings, except for a Fremgen walk in the sixth. Despite this, he was picked off at first base on the next batter. Marymount's offense, meanwhile, was not as strong as it was in the first game. But, they were able to score one run in the middle innings. In the bottom of the fifth, a double got the Saints with a man on base. A Widener fielding error would tie the game at 1-1. Despite having a man on second and third base in the sixth, the Pride recorded a strikeout to end the inning.
Widener's offense was halted in the top of the seventh, giving the Saints a chance to win the game. With one out, and bases loaded for Marymount, a single to right field walked it off for the Saints. The final score was Marymount 2-1. The Pride had lost both games of the doubleheader.
UP NEXT
The Pride see their first MAC Commonwealth opponent, the Stevenson University Mustangs, on Friday. That is a home game for Widener. First pitch is at 3:30 p.m.
