READING, Pa. – Playing its first games in just over three weeks, the Albright baseball team dropped a pair of games to Widener in a MAC Commonwealth doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Kelchner Field.
 
With the setbacks, the Lions fall to 1-11 overall on the season and 1-9 in MAC Commonwealth play. Meanwhile, the Pride improves to 12-8 overall and 9-7 in conference play.
 
GAME ONE
Albright senior starting pitcher Shaun O'Reilly retired the first two Pride batters to open the game before a double and a single with two outs put Widener up 1-0. O'Reilly was able to work out of the jam by forcing a groundout following a fielding error. The Lions looked to respond in the bottom of the first as junior designated hitter Dylan Harlos smashed a two-out double to the warning track in centerfield, but a groundout ended the threat. After the Pride were retired in order, the Lions put runners on first and second with no outs following singles from senior Brandon Daubert and sophomore Austin Gromlich. However, the Pride were able to get Daubert at third following a bunt attempt before retiring the next two Lions in order. The Pride put runners on first and second with one out in the top of the third, but O'Reilly shut down the threat with a strikeout and fly out. Senior shortstop Jimmie Gentry led off the bottom of the third with a double to deep centerfield as the Lions looked to tie the game. Unfortunately for the Lions, Gentry was thrown out trying to steal third two batters later to leave the Lions scoreless. Widener put runners on second and third with one out in the top of the fifth, and extended its lead to 2-0 from a sacrifice fly. Albright was only able to get one hit in the last three innings, a leadoff single from Gentry in the bottom of the sixth, and struck out six times during that span.
 
GAME TWO
The Pride once again got on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning, this time scoring two runs on three hits. Widener had its first runner reach on a walk and he advanced to third off a sacrifice bunt. An errant throw to third base allowed the runner to score. The Pride got its second run of the inning off a single following a double and wild pitch. Widener extended its lead to 6-0 in the top of the second off of three hits, one being a three-run home run to the right field corner with two outs. The Pride continued to pull away in the top of the third as they added two more runs to go up 8-0. Widener's bats stayed red hot into the top of the fourth as they added three runs on three hits to take a commanding 11-0 lead. Gromlich recorded the Lions first hit of the contest with two outs in the bottom of the fifth after Pride starting pitcher, Dylan Peiffer retired the first 14 batters. Daubert followed with a single of his own and sophomore Tristan Kochel loaded the bases with a hit by pitch. However, a strikeout in the following at bat ended the threat. The Lions were only able to get one hit in the final four innings and two total base runners. Widener added two more runs in the top of the eighth to complete the win.
 
O'Reilly suffered the tough-luck loss in game one after tossing a complete game and allowing two earned runs. The senior struck out five batters and allowed just four hits along with three walks. Gentry went 2-of-3 from the plate in game one. Three different Lions recorded one hit in the second game. Sophomore pitcher Gavin Budzyn tossed a strong 3.1 innings in relief, allowing two earned runs on two hits and struck out five batters. Senior pitcher Ryan Kalinich suffered the loss in game two after allowing eight runs (all earned) on eight hits in 2.1 innings with one strikeout. Andrew Jaffarian recorded the win in game one after throwing five shutout innings, and allowed four hits along with striking out six batters. Peiffer earned the win for the Pride in game two after tossing seven shutout innings and striking out 10 while allowing three hits.
 
The Lions wrap up their four-game series with the Pride tomorrow, April 18^th with first pitch of game one at 12 p.m.