(Game 1) / (Game 2)
Widener secured third place in the Commonwealth Conference with a doubleheader split at Messiah, winning the first game 7-4 before dropping an 8-2 contest in the finale.
Freshman Dan Sieracki (Cherry Hill, NJ) went on a tear in the opener, going 3-for-3 with two doubles, a grand slam and four RBI. Sieracki’s third-inning slam gave the Pride a 5-4 lead and was his team-best sixth long ball of the year.
Coatesville, PA junior Dan Gross (3-4) allowed four unearned runs and five hits over six innings with three strikeouts for the Pride (18-15-1, 8-7 CC). Freshman Joe Sessa (Broomall, PA) pitched the seventh inning for the save.
Sheldon Witmer (3-5), the losing pitcher in Friday’s wild 11-10, 12-inning Widener victory, was tagged for seven runs and nine hits over seven innings.
The win secured the Pride’s seed one day after clinching a fifth straight trip to the conference tournament.
Senior Colin McHale (Wynnewood, PA) homered in game two as he and junior Tom Connelly (Media, PA) notched two hits apiece.
Brookhaven, PA freshman Mike Pappas (3-3) surrendered three runs and five hits over one inning for the Pride.
Eric Spring (3-3) got the victory for the Falcons (14-22-1, 6-9), permitting two runs – one earned – and three hits over five innings. Sam Tajiri had three RBI as he and Jordan Zimmerman closed with three hits apiece.
Widener next Thursday will face second-seeded Lebanon Valley in the double-elimination conference tournament, beginning at 7:30 pm in West Lawn, PA.