Game 1 Box Score  Game 2 Box Score

ANNVILLE, Pa. – Junior Jeff Grieger (Riegelsville, Pa./Wilson) hit 4-for-6 and Lebanon Valley split a Commonwealth Conference doubleheader with Widener University on Wednesday afternoon at McGill Park.

Widener (11-20-1, 8-10 CC) won the first game 4-2 behind a seven-hit complete game from sophomore Tony Meccariello. Senior Joe Zielke (Media, Pa./Penncrest) scattered 11 hits and went the distance for Lebanon Valley (13-12, 8-10 CC) in a 7-6 Flying Dutchmen victory in the nightcap.

Lebanon Valley trailed 4-0 in the second game before the Dutchmen took the lead for good after a six-run fourth, highlighted by a bases-clearing double from sophomore Craig Denlinger (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield).

LVC's victory in the nightcap ended the team's six-game Commowealth Conference losing streak and kept the Valley in the hunt for a Commonwealth playoff berth. With three conference games left on its schedule, Lebanon Valley remains tied with Widener and Juniata College for fifth place in the conference standings. The top four teams in the league qualify for the Commonwealth tournament.

Albright College split its doubleheader with Juniata on Wednesday to remain in fourth place at 9-9 in the conference standings.

In game one, Widener took a 2-0 lead after scoring once in the first and once in the second against LVC starter Tony Gebhard (Lebanon, Pa./Lebanon Catholic). The Dutchmen cut it to 2-1 in the third when senior Mike Worthington (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin), who went 3-for-3 in the opener, scored from first on a double to left-center by Grieger.

Grieger tied the game in the fourth when he singled through the right side to score senior Tim Rink (Ivyland, Pa./Council Rock).

The Pioneers scored on an error with two outs in the sixth for the eventual game-winner.

Widener added an insurance run in the seventh on a walk, two hit batsmen and an RBI groundout against reliever Dennis Reilly (Hatboro, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham).

Meccariello (2-5) struck out six and walked two while Gebhard (1-2) struck out two and walked six in six innings of work.

The Pioneers left 11 runners on base in the opener.

In the nightcap, Widener plated three runs on three hits in the third against Zielke (1-0), who was making his first collegiate start after throwing just six games and 4 1/3 innings in relief for the season entering the game.

The Pioneers made it 4-0 after a one-run fourth before the Valley's big inning in the bottom of the frame. The Dutchmen batted around in the inning and the team's first six hitters reached base before Widener would record an out.

Senior Mark Schauren (Columbia, Pa./Columbia) ripped a single to right to put LVC on the scoreboard, and Grieger made it 4-2 with an RBI single through the left side to load the bases. Denlinger brought everybody home with a long drive to right that bounced off the bottom of the wall.

Grieger gave LVC an insurance run in the sixth when he singled, stole second and third and beat a throw home on a fielder's choice.

Widener rallied with a pair of runs in the seventh and had runners on first and second with two outs but Zielke ended the game with a line-out.

Zielke walked three and struck out two. Widener starter Rob Schuck (3-5) threw all six innings for Widener and surrendered six hits and three walks while striking out four.

Lebanon Valley returns to McGill Park on Thursday for a nine-inning game against Messiah College. Although the game will be played at Lebanon Valley, Messiah will serve as the home team because the Falcons were unable to schedule the game on their field.

[Photo - Junior Jeff Grieger, who was 4-for-6 with three RBIs against Widener on Wedneday]

-lvc-