CHESTER, Pa., Thursday, April 21, 2011-- Arcadia University traveled to Widener University this afternoon to play a crucial double-header against the Pride. Seeing play-offs in the near future the Knights took care of business posting two wins, winning the opener 11-4 and the night cap 5-4. In game two the Knights rallied from a 4-0 deficit through four innings of play, scoring five unanswered runs, two in the fifth, two in the sixth, and the game-winning run in then top of the eighth to squeak out the win before night fell.
In game one the Knights exploded for seven runs and three home runs in the top of the second inning to take the life out of the Pride early on. First-year Jessica Wood led-off the inning with a double to right-field, followed by sophomore Marissa Perez getting down an RBI bunt single to push the first run of the day across the plate. Following the first out of the inning, first-year Leanda Helms stepped to the plate and stayed hot, powering the Pride pitch over the left field wall for a two-run homer, and a 3-0 Arcadia lead. After the second out of the inning was recorded, and it looked as if Widener would get out of the inning only giving up three runs, however, the Knights had other things in mind. Junior Lindsey Henchinski next to the plate, got a hold of a pitched sent it over the left field wall, for a solo home run, classmate Erin Wojcieszyn next singled to left field, followed by a RBI double by sophomore Brandee Zablotsky. Senior Virginia Buechel finished off the second with the third home run of the inning, with a two-run home to left center. By the time the inning was done, the Knights were ahead 7-0.
Widener outscored the Knights 4-2 over the next four innings to pull within five runs at 9-4. Arcadia would score two runs in the top of the seventh, while pitching a scoreless bottom of the seventh to take the game 11-4. Buechel led the Knights with a four RBI effort on three hits, while sophomore Marrisa Perez added three RBIs on two hits.
In game two Widener looked as though they had put the first game completely out of their mind, and held the Knights scoreless four innings of play, while posting four runs of their own for a 4-0 advantage. Arcadia, needing the victory to stay on pace for the conference play-offs put on their rally caps in the top of the fifth, looking to make their comeback. Sophomore Corrin Showalter started the inning with a walk, and Ashley John reached base on a error, prior to a double off the bat of Henchinski scoring two to cut the Pride lead in half. After the Knights held Widener scoreless in the fifth, they went back to work in the top of the sixth, again utilizing the long ball. Wood reached base on a lead off double to center field, and Perez continuing her hot day at the plate sent the pitch over the left field fall for a game tying two-run homer.
While both teams were held scoreless in the final inning of regulation the Knights, looked to manufacture a run in the top of the eighth, as Wood reached on a walk, and Perez singled, both runners advanced an extra base on an in-field throwing error, putting runners on second and third with one out. Showalter would deliver Wood home on a game-winning sacrifice fly to finish the sweep of Widener.
Arcadia improves to 21-7 on the season and 8-4 in the Commonwealth. Currently the Knights are solidly in third place in the Commonwealth standings, with just one conference double-header left on the schedule next weekend at Lebanon Valley College.
