CHESTER, Pa. – For the second time in just over a week, Aaron Nuble came up big for the Pride. The Hood College Blazers took the first game 3-0, but Widener won the second game 4-3.

The Pride are 12-15 in the regular season. They are 6-7 in conference play.

HOW IT HAPPENED AGAINST HOOD

Game 1

Nick Barenz and Stephen Posner each had two hits. Hayden O'Neill went all seven innings, allowing four hits and striking out five batters.

The Blazers were off to a hot start. An RBI single and a wild pitch gave the visitors a two-run lead. Widener would get a man on base in the bottom of the first, but Hood recorded a pick-off to end the inning. The Pride played good defense through the next two innings, not allowing the Blazers to increase their advantage. A loaded-bases scenario in the bottom of the second resulted in no runs scored. In the third, Hood showed strong defense by way of a double play. The score was 2-0 Hood through three.

Both defenses were stingy as the second half of the game was underway. In the fourth and fifth innings, only three batters would see the plate per half-inning except for the bottom of the fourth. Hood then added an insurance run in the top of the sixth. A double put a man on second, and he proceeded to score on back-to-back sacrifice bunts. The Pride retired the Blazers on the next play due to a groundout. Needing a spark in the bottom of the seventh, Widener began with a single to left field. Even with two men on base, though, Hood got the final out to shut-out the Pride. The Blazers won the game 3-0.

Game 2

Anthony Boccio, Jon Aman, Xavier Ruley, and Nuble all logged a run. Boccio had three hits in four at-bats. Kyle Laing was the winning pitcher, striking out three batters in two innings.

The Pride's defense made a great stop in the top of the first, not allowing a runner on third to score. A groundout got them out of the inning. Widener had no problems putting runners on base in the bottom of the first, but they were unsuccessful in scoring as well. Following a quick second inning from both teams, the Pride halted the visitors' offense once again in the third. A score on a bases-loaded situation was denied after a strikeout and a pop-up. Widener put themselves on the board for the first time of the afternoon in the bottom of the third. A hit-by-pitch with bases loaded scored Boccio. Widener led after three 1-0.

Hood answered back in the top of the fourth with an RBI single. They did the same thing in the top of the fifth to go up 2-1. Widener retired the Blazers' offense in the fifth by picking off a runner at first base. Although the Pride would have men on second and third base in the bottom of the fifth, a line-out ended the inning. Laing came in to pitch in the sixth inning, recording two of his three strikeouts. This would be key because the Pride would score two runs in the bottom of the sixth. A Boccio RBI single and a Kyle Brex sac-fly brought in the runs. With two outs in the top of the seventh and down by one run, the Blazers kept the game going with an RBI due to a Widener fielding error. This tied the game 3-3. The Pride loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh on a Ruley walk. Hood changed pitchers as Nuble stepped to the plate. On just the second pitch from the new pitcher, Nuble was hit by a pitch, which brought in the winning run. Widener won 4-3 on a walk-off. In the three-game series between Friday and Saturday, Widener won two of three over Hood.

UP NEXT
The Pride will hit the road to St. Davids, Pa. on Tuesday, where they will take on the Eastern University Eagles in a doubleheader. The games will begin at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.