Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 GLENSIDE, Pa. – The Arcadia University softball team lost both games of a conference doubleheader Tuesday afternoon against visiting Widener University, 2-1 and 14-2. With the losses, the Knights fell to an even 2-2 record in the Commonwealth Conference and 5-11 overall, while Widener also evened their conference record at 3-3 and improved to 9-5 overall with the wins.

In game one, Arcadia was able to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth, but Widener responded in the top half of the seventh to put across the go-ahead run, which was enough to take the first game. The Pride exploded offensively in game twos, scoring 13 of their 14 runs in the final three innings to take the victory and secure the sweep.

Senior Leanda Helms (Topton, Pa.) led Arcadia offensively after going a combined 2-for-3 with two walks and scoring a run. Sophomore Alicia McMahon (Bel Air, Md.) pushed across Arcadia's only run in the first game while also contributing in game two with a hit, a walk, and a run scored.

Game 1: Widener 2, Arcadia 1

Hits and runs came at a premium in game one as both teams combined for only three runs and seven hits total.

The Pride were able to strike first in the top of the first after a well-executed suicide squeeze by sophomore Alie Atkins (Aston, Pa.) plated freshman Angela Hood (Mullica Twp, N.J.) to score the first run of the game.

After the first inning, sophomore pitcher Erin Wilson (Bethlehem, Pa.) settled down and retired the side in order in the second and third innings and would carry a no-hitter into the fifth inning until a single down the right field line.

The Knights tied up the ballgame in the bottom of the sixth inning after senior Jessica Wood (Columbus, N.J.) came around to score. She led off the inning by being hit by a pitch and advanced to second thanks to a wild pitch. Helms was able to lay down a sacrifice bunt to push Wood to third and McMahon was able to send her across home after an error by Widener's second baseman.

Widener came right back in the top of the seventh and scored the eventual game winning run because of a throwing error and the Knights could not answer in their last at-bats as they went down in order to close out the game.

Wilson (3-5) suffered the loss on the mound for Arcadia, despite not giving up an earned run in the contest and scattering only four hits, all of which came in the final 2.2 innings. Wilson also only walked one and struck out three in her seven innings of work.

For the Pride, freshman Alexis Schengrund (Hillsborough, N.J.) improved her record to 7-2 after surrendering one run on three hits and three walks and striking out nine.

Game 2: Widener 14, Arcadia 2

The first two innings saw little action offensively for both teams as both combined for only one hit in the first two innings.

In the third inning, Widener once again got on the board first by way of a bunt that scored the runner from third.

Then after the third, the Pride saw their offense really explode for the rest of the game, scoring three runs in the fourth, four in the fifth inning, and six in the sixth inning.

Nine batters in the lineup recorded hits for Widener with five producing multiple hits in the game. Six drove in runs for the Pride and five recorded a multi-RBI game. Freshman Salina Allebach (Souderton, Pa.) helped out her own cause by leading the offense and going 3-for-4 at the plate while racking up four RBIs and two runs scored.

The Knights could not string their offense together for the better part of the game, only producing five hits and scoring only a run in each of the fourth and sixth thanks in part to defensive lapses from the Pride.

Sophomore pitcher Sarah Gunia (East Brunswick, N.J.) did push across the first run for the Knights after singling to left field to score Helms in the fourth inning.
In the final at-bats for the Knights, Senior Amanda Tomaschek (Toms River, N.J.) did push across the second run for the Knights on a two-out single to score McMahon, but the deficit was too much for Arcadia as a popup to the catcher ended the game in the very next at-bat.

Gunia (2-5) suffered the loss on the mound after pitching 3.1 innings and giving up four runs on four hits, two walks, and three strikeouts.

For the Pride, Allebach (2-1) picked up the complete game win after going six innings and surrendering two runs on five hits and two walks.  

Arcadia will be back in action on Friday when the Knights travel to Grantham, Pa. for a Commonwealth Conference doubleheader against Messiah College starting at 3:30 p.m.