LVC 5, Widener 3 (Game One)

LVC Lineup
Edwards (2B), Herring (RF), DeClerico (SS), Kiessling (LF), Marcelli (1B), Berry (DH), Albright (C), Weik (3B), Puglisi (CF), Wall (SP)

Widener Lineup
Elfreth (3B), McDonough (CF), DeBellis (SS), Healey (1B), Enos (2B), Barnett (LF), Garolfolo (RF), Lowery (DH), Snyder (C), Lafferty (SP)

How It Happened
ANNVILLE, Pa. – Lebanon Valley swept Widener out of Annville on Saturday afternoon and earned two significant wins over the Pride. The Dutchmen held on for a 5-3 win in game one behind terrific pitching from Casey Wall and LVC's bullpen.

After the Pride scored the game's first run in the top of the fourth off a throwing error, the Dutchmen responded in a big way and put up a five-spot in the bottom of the fourth, which was all the runs that they ended up needing. After an eight-pitch at-bat, Colin Albright singled to center to score Marsall Kiessling, then Michael Puglisi singled up the middle to plate Philip Berry to put LVC up 2-1. Later, Zac Edwards drew a bases-loaded walk, then Joshua Herring singled down the left field line with two outs, scoring Puglisi and Michael Leri for the comfy 5-1 LVC advantage.

In the top of the fifth, Widener made it a two-run game when Justin Healey launched a two-run homerun to left field to make it 5-3, but that score remained heading into the top of the seventh. In the top of the seventh, pinch hitter Peiffer struck out swinging, but reached on a throwing error, knocking the starting pitcher Wall out of the game. After Mike Elfreth walked, Greg McDonough singled via a bunt to load the bases with two outs. Eric Marrero, who's been solid in the 'pen all season for LVC, escaped a bases-loaded, nobody out jam, as DeBellis and Healey popped up, followed by a Nick Enos ground out to end the game.

Inside the Numbers (Game One)
 - Edwards continued his recent tear and went 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Chris DeClerico and Berry added two hits each.
 - Casey Wall tossed six innings and earned his team-leading fourth win of the season. The senior captain allowed just two earned and struck out two.

LVC 4, Widener 2 (Game Two)

LVC Lineup
Edwards (2B), Herring (LF), DeClerico (SS), Kiessling (C), Marcelli (SP), Berry (1B), Puglisi (CF), Leri (3B), Harned (RF)

Widener Lineup
Elfreth (3B), McDonough (CF), DeBellis (SS), Healey (1B), Enos (2B), Barnett (LF), Garofolo (RF), Czupryna (C), Lowery (DH), McKelvy (SP)

How It Happened
LVC completed the sweep with a narrow 4-2 victory over the Pride in game two behind a complete-game effort from Joshua Marcelli on the mound.

Widener scored early with a tally in the top of the first, but the Dutchmen responded with three in the bottom of the second and never looked back. In the bottom of the second, Jonathan Harned singled home Berry before Edwards' two-RBI single scored Harned and Leri.

The Pride game to within one at 3-2 with Czupryna hit a sacrifice fly, but in the bottom of the sixth, Leri singled down the left field line to score Berry and make it 4-2. Marcelli took over from there and held Widener scoreless in the sixth and seventh to earn the big win.

Inside the Numbers (Game Two)
 - Leri went 2-for-2 with an RBI, while Edwards added two RBI.
 - Marcelli improved to 2-1 on the season with a complete-game win. He scattered just five hits while allowing just two earned and punching out four.

Playoff Picture
The Dutchmen have all-but clinched a playoff spot and are tied for third with Widener, but now own the tiebreaker. Four conference games remain in the regular season for the Dutchmen.

Who's Next?
LVC heads to Chester tomorrow to take on Widener in the regular season finale at 1 p.m.