Box Score PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Arcadia University baseball team dropped a 12-3 decision against visiting conference rival Widener University. Widener scored seven runs in the first two innings to push out to an early lead and scored another four in the sixth inning to put the game out of reach for the Knights.

With the loss, Arcadia falls to 2-7 overall and 1-1 in the Commonwealth, while Widener improves to 8-4 overall and 2-1 in conference games.

Widener opened up the game by the first four batters reaching base, including three singles and a walk. Senior Michael Riverso (Philadelphia, Pa.) plated the first two runs of the game when he singled through the right side and then a fielder's choice from junior Edward Speakman (Chichester, Pa.) pushed across the Pride's third run of the game.

In the second inning, Widener scored another four runs by way of a single from junior Matt Scherer (Havertown, Pa.), a fielder's choice from Riverso, and then a two-RBI single from junior Michael Rytelewski (Brick, N.J.), giving the Pride a 7-0 lead.

Arcadia would respond in the bottom of the second by scoring its first run of the game. Sophomore George Pagan (Old Bridge, N.J.) led off the inning with an infield single to the third baseman and freshman Justin Chasmar (Barnegat, N.J.) would put runners on first and second after a single a few batters later. Senior Taylor Schon (Scotch Plains, N.J.) then singled and thanks to a throwing error from the third baseman, Pagan came around to score to give Arcadia their first run of the game. Although having runners on second and third with only one out, the Knights were not able to put across any more runs in the inning.  

The Pride scored another in the fourth inning and would take an 8-1 lead into the sixth inning until they added on four more runs thanks to five hits and three walks in the inning. Widener had bases loaded with one out, but freshman pitcher Matthew Smith (Telford, Pa.) came into the game and was able to induce a line-drive double play to stop the threat.

After the second inning, the Knights' offense was held silent until the seventh, but the attempted comeback was too little too late. Freshman Robert Roth (Freehold, N.J.) pounded a one out pinch-hit double to get the bats going, and was followed up with an RBI triple to left field from senior Elliott Freeman (Bangor, Pa.) to score Roth. Senior Brian Innella (Commack, N.Y.) strung together Arcadia's third hit in a row when he hit an RBI single to left, but Innella was left stranded and from there, the Knights could not get anything together offensively in the final two innings.

Freeman and Chasmar each contributed two hits and a walk for the Knights, with Freeman tacking on an RBI and a run scored.

Senior starting pitcher David Behler (Lehighton, Pa.) suffered the loss on the mound for the Knights after giving up eight runs on ten hits, one walk, and three strikeouts in his four innings of work. With the loss, Behler falls to 0-1 on the year.

For the Pride, senior Robert Barth (Norristown, Pa.) earned the win after tossing seven innings and giving up three runs on ten hits, two walks, and striking out six. He improved his record to 4-0 with the win.

Arcadia will look to avenge the loss tomorrow when they travel to Widener for a doubleheader with first pitch set for noon.