READING, Pa. – The Albright Lions baseball team was limited to five hits as they were shutout by Widener in MAC Commonwealth play on a windy Friday afternoon at Kelchner Field.
 
With the loss, the Lions drop to 10-15 on the season with a 4-12 record in MAC Commonwealth play. Meanwhile, the Pride improves to 15-15 overall and 8-8 in conference play.
 
The Lions escaped a jam in the top of the first with runners on first and second thanks to a 5-3 double play started by sophomore third baseman Logan Adams when he tagged the lead runner. The Pride then took advantage in the top of the second for its first run of the day after putting runners on first and third with two outs. Widener attempted a stolen base which prompted the runner on third to race home on the initial throw towards second. The throw was cut off and fired back to home plate, but the ball was dropped at the plate to allow the run to score. Albright looked as they would respond in the bottom of the second when they put runners on second and third with no outs thanks to a single from senior Noah Beebe, and a double from junior Joe Suppa. Unfortunately for the Lions, they were unable to score any runs after a pair of shallow fly outs and a strikeout ended the inning. Widener would add its second run in the top of the third on a RBI single after back to back walks. The Lions escaped more potential trouble in the top of the fourth when sophomore right fielder Logan Pennypacker threw out a Pride runner trying to leg out a double to end the inning.
 
However, Albright was unable to evade trouble in the top of the fifth as the Pride tallied its third run of the inning on a passed ball with two outs. A leadoff double and stolen base put a Pride runner on third to lead off the inning. Widener then got a second runner on base after the runner on third escaped a rundown after a ground ball was hit to third base. The Pride then got its run to score on the passed ball after the bases became loaded on a walk with two outs. Senior Zach Krause got things going for the Lions in the bottom of the sixth with a leadoff double to snap a string of 12 straight Lions batters retired. The momentum from the double was then quickly erased after Krause was picked off at second base during the next at-bat. Adams would single after the pick off, but a 5-4-3 double play subsequently end the inning. Widener loaded the bases with one out in the top of the seventh, and would cash in with a RBI single to make it 4-0. Freshman pitcher Ryan Kalinich was brought in after the single and then retired the next two Pride batters to prevent any further damage. After a double play ended the bottom of the seventh for the Lions, Widener added its final run of the day on a RBI single in the top of the eighth after its first two batters reached base. Albright put runners on first and second with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but a strikeout would end the game.
 
Five Lions players each recorded one hit on the afternoon with Suppa and Krause tallying doubles. Sophomore pitcher Nick Dinnocenti suffered the loss after allowing three runs (one earned) on seven hits, while striking out four and walking four. Junior Daron Pijanowski pitched two innings in relief and allowed one earned run on one hit and three walks. Kalinich allowed one earned run as well on three hits, and struck out two. Pride pitcher Kade Jones earned the win after coming one out away from a complete game shutout. Jones allowed five hits and struck out four batters with two walks in 8.2 innings of work.
 
Albright will continue its three-game series with Widener tomorrow, April 21^st when they will travel to Chester for a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.