READING, Pa. – Senior
Evan High capped a two-run seventh inning rally by scoring from third base on an error lifting Albright to a 6-5 victory in game two earning the Lions a split of their Commonwealth Conference doubleheader with Widener on Saturday at Kelchner Field.
The Lions entered the bottom of the seventh inning of game two trailing 5-4 before rallying for the win.
Pinch-hitter
Noah Beebe began the seventh inning by drawing a walk.
Alex Myers pinch ran for Beebe and advanced to second when High laid down a bunt and beat it out for an infield single.
Max Dundore also followed with a bunt single to load the bases with no outs.
Zac Okonski, who pinch hit for
Antoine Galloway, was hit by a pitch forcing in Myers with the tying run.
Zachary Kiebler then lofted a fly ball to right, which was misplayed allowing High to scamper in with the winning run.
Albright, which improved to 9-9-1 overall and 5-7 in the Commonwealth, seemed destined for a sweep at the hands of the Pride as the Lions trailed 5-0 entering the bottom of the sixth inning of game two.
Dylan Boll began the rally with an infield single and
Gabe Santone doubled to right putting two runners in scoring position with no outs.
High grounded out to third, which allowed Boll to score and cut the Widener lead to 5-1.
Following a single by
Max Dundore, pinch-hitter
Joe Pechulis ripped a single to right center bringing home Santone and trimming the lead to 5-2.
Brandon Triantos drew a walk to load the bases and
Nathan Fretz reached on an infield single to score Dundore and bring Albright to within 5-3.
John Medvecky drew a four-pitch walk, which forced in Galloway and cut the margin to 5-4.
Doug Franks allowed a one-out single, but retired the Pride on a fly out and a ground out in the top of the seventh to set the stage for the dramatic comeback.
Franks picked up the win in relief for the Lions and improved to 1-0 on the season.
Dundore was 3-for-4 and scored a run for the Lions, while Santone was 2-for-2 with a run scored. Albright also received base hits from Fretz, Boll, High, Pechulis and Kiebler.
Widener broke a 2-2 tie in game one by scoring four times in the top of the seventh inning on its way to a 6-2 victory.
Dundore had tied the game for the Lions with a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning, but the Pride rallied in the seventh inning to claim the victory.
Michael Elfreth keyed the rally for Widener with a two-run single.
Robert Barth picked up the win for the Pride in game one as he allowed just three hits and two runs to improve to 2-4 on the season.
Alex Myers started for Albright in game one and permitted just one earned run in 4.2 innings.
Fretz, High and Dundore picked up base hits for the Lions in game one.
Albright returns to action on Sunday (April 12) when it hosts Lebanon Valley for a Commonwealth Conference doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Kelchner Field.
