Baseball
Widener 9, Lebanon Valley 5

Box Score

CHESTER, Pa. – Lebanon Valley baseball opened Commonwealth Conference action Friday with a 9-5 loss to reigning champion Widener. Aaron Mills and Jordan Witmer recorded two RBI each for the Dutchmen.

Witmer went 3-for-5 at the plate, while three other players notched two hits each.

Lebanon Valley looked to strike in the first inning when leadoff hitter Ryan Schwartz started with a single. He advanced to third but was unable to score. Widener responded in the bottom of the first with four runs for the early lead.

The Dutchmen reached the scoreboard in the second inning with a solo home run from Witmer, the first of his career.

Thomas Rasich scored another run in the fourth for LVC. He reached base with a single through the left side and was sent home on a sacrifice fly by Schwartz. Widener extended its lead in the bottom of the inning with two more runs scoring.

In the fifth inning, Lebanon Valley cut Widener's advantage to two runs. Aaron Mills led things off with a solo home run to left center, his first of the season. Jacob Rhody continued with a single to left and scored on a double by Witmer.

Widener put the game out of reach with two more runs in the sixth inning and one in the eighth. LVC's final run of the contest came in the eighth when a fielder's choice scored Jordan Higgins.

Caleb Fick started the game for the Dutchmen, pitching five innings. He allowed six runs on 11 hits and struck out one. Jake Becker tossed the final three innings, giving up three runs and striking out three batters.

LVC concludes the series against Widener on Saturday. The doubleheader at McGill Field starts at noon.