Box Score
CHESTER, Pa. - Lebanon Valley College was denied a spot in the Commonwealth Conference playoffs Tuesday, falling 6-5 to Widener University in the conference's play-in game.
The Dutchmen (12-24) tied the game at five in the top of the eighth before the Pride (25-12) answered in the bottom of the inning with Jason Brooke's RBI single to take the lead. LVC's Joe Soupik had hit a two-run home run in the top of the eighth to tie the game at 5-5.
Lebanon Valley went all-out from the bullpen, using four starters in the effort. Andrew Pipkin started the game, throwing three innings and allowing three runs before Matt Kline allowed two more runs in relief. Shane Specht, who was ultimately tagged with the loss, allowed the winning run in the eighth, and Nick Faria closed the game out.
Widener had a strong performance by Dan Gross, who went eight full and allowed five runs. Tristan Harner held the lead in the ninth to earn his first save of the season.
The Dutchmen scored two in the first when John Mentzer and Dennis Morgan scored on a throwing error. LVC threatened more, putting runners on second and third before Paul Earle struck out to end the inning.
Widener came back to tie the game in the second when Tom Mahoney knocked in two runs before being thrown out trying to stretch the play into a triple.
Joe Kopchick scored Mentzer in the third to take a 3-2 lead on a sacrifice fly to right, but the Pride again tied the game in the bottom of the inning when Mike Cahill put a ball in play to score Pat Santry.
The Pride finally took the lead in the next inning with a pair of runs. After Alex Neiman reached on Nate Blough's error at third, Mahoney singled him in, and Santry's double scored Mahoney for a 5-3 lead.
The game stayed that way until the eighth when Soupik blasted a two-run home run to right to tie the game and keep LVC's playoff hopes alive. Widener, however, had other plans as Tom DeAngelis led off with a single and scored on Brooke's two-out single later in the inning.
In the ninth, Blough grounded out to short for the first out, and Brandon Thompson singled to keep the inning going. Morgan flew out to center, however, and Thompson was forced at second on Lamoureux's fielder's choice to end the game.
