Game 1 Box Score Game 2 Box Score
CHESTER, Pa. – The Lebanon Valley College baseball team was swept by Widener in a Commonwealth Conference doubleheader at Pioneer Field on Saturday.
The Flying Dutchmen (7-5, 0-3 CC) lost both games by a score of 5-4, as Widener (10-3, 3-0 CC) swept the season series from LVC. The Pioneers won all three games by one run, as they defeated the Dutchmen 6-5 on Friday.
Lebanon Valley has now lost its last four games after starting the season 7-1. Widener won for the fifth game in a row and for the ninth time in its last 10 games.
In the opener, the Dutchmen fell behind 2-0 after the first inning before pulling even with a pair of unearned runs in the second following a two-out error by the third baseman.
Widener went back in front with a pair of runs in the third, but the Dutchmen came back to tie it once again after a two-run single by freshman Kyle Johansen in the fourth.
The game was tied going into the bottom of the seventh before B.J. Hogan singled with one out. Pinch-runner Stu Madden stole second, and James Porreca walked. After a groundout put runners on second and third, Josh McCleod singled home the game-winning run.
Senior Robert Nordall suffered the loss while throwing a complete game for Lebanon Valley. Nordall (1-1) gave up nine hits and two walks and struck out one.
Seniors Scott Montgomery and Ron Weaver were each held hitless as their hitting streaks were ended. Montgomery had batted safely in the previous 14 games while Weaver was on an 11-game streak.
Senior Craig Denlinger scored a pair of runs for LVC.
Sophomore Tom Pletcher (2-1) fired a two-hit complete game for the Pioneers. He struck out 11, walked three and yielded only one earned run.
In the second game, Lebanon Valley jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, scoring a pair of unearned runs. Widener tied it up with a two-run third before the Dutchmen plated another unearned run in the fourth to go ahead 3-2.
The Pioneers tied it up with one run in the bottom of the fourth before going ahead to stay with a two-run fifth.
The Dutchmen rallied in the seventh, and a Montgomery sacrifice fly made it 5-4. Junior Jon Kelly ripped a pinch-hit single to center with two outs, but Widener reliever Walt Albright induced a popout to end the game and pick up the save.
Sophomore Matt Sanders started on the mound for LVC and pitched 5 1/3 innings. He gave up five runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks while striking out two. Senior Dennis Reilly retired both batters he faced in the sixth.
Freshman Jerry Benedict (2-0) threw six innings before giving way to Albright with one on and no outs in the seventh. He yielded only one earned run on three hits and two walks while striking out four to pick up the win.
Denlinger scored two more runs in the second game for LVC.
Lebanon Valley picks up its schedule on Monday, when it hosts Ursinus at 3 p.m. in a non-conference game.
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