CHESTER, Pa. – The Stevenson baseball team (13-22-1, 8-4 MACC) defeated Widener (19-15, 8-4 MACC) in the first game of a MAC Commonwealth doubleheader 6-3 before dropping the second game of the day 7-23 Saturday afternoon at Widener Baseball Field.

Game One

Stevenson starter Matt Reich pitched a strong seven innings surrendering two runs on three hits and striking out seven on his way to his fourth win of the season. Carl Sansbury threw two scoreless innings to pick up his first save of the season. Amani Jones went 3-4 at the dish with a double, knocking in two RBIs. Billy McAdam, Brandon Perillo and Alex Russo all tunred in two hit performances in the nine-inning affair.

Stevenson took advantage of their first trip to the plate when Amani Jones doubled to right field to score McAdam from second.

Widener tied the ballgame with a leadoff homerun by Anthony Boccio in the second. Matt Reich retired the next eight batters before an RBI single from Nick Barenze in the fourth gave the Pride the 2-1 lead.

Stevenson knotted the game in its next trip to the plate notching a runon Billy McAdam's two out single to center to score Trent Smoot from second. Alex Russo tallied an outfield assist in the bottom half of the frame, snagging a fly ball in left and doubling up the non-tagging runner at first base to end the inning.

In the seventh, Jones notched his second RBI of the afternoon with a single to right to score the pinch-running Kevin Carricato. Elliot Schilpp followed with a pinch-hit single to right to score Tommy Holcomb from third. Brandon Perillo added an RBI single to center to score Jones, giving the Mustangs a 5-2 lead.

Matt Reich retired the final six hitters he faced in order, adding three strikeouts, finishing his afternoon in the seventh.

Stevenson continued a strong defensive performance with Carl Sansbury forcing a groundball and rolling a 4-6-3 double play in the eight but not before Aaron Nuble could cross the plate to give the Pride their third run of the ballgame.

The Mustangs added one more run in the ninth on Alex Russo's single to left to score Jones from second moving the Stevenson lead to 6-3. Sansbury pitched a scoreless ninth inning to seal the 6-3 wind for the Mustangs.

Game Two

Stevenson again started strong, adding a run in the top of the first on a Tommy Holcomb single to center, scoring Jonathan Brandt from second. The Pride tied the game in the bottom half of the opening frame with a sacrifice fly.

Elliot Schilpp reached on a walk before a passed ball and wild pitch sent him to third base. Kevin Carricato grounded out back to the pitcher to score Schilpp, giving Stevenson a 2-1 advantage.

However, the Pride roared to an 8-2 lead with a seven-run third inning.

Carricato added another RBI in the fourth with a single to left, scoring Trevor Smoot from third.

Widener added runs in each of its next five trips to the plate, posting three in the fourth, one in the fifth, four each in the sixth and seventh and three in the eighth to take a 23-4 lead.

The Mustangs added one a run in the ninth on a Kyle Fratesi single to left to score Dylan Bird before Connor Sancomb scored when Jack Gitterman reached on an error. A bases loaded hit-by-pitch from Joe Apuzzo brought the score to 23-7 before a fly out ended the ball game.

News and Notes

• Matt Rech has tallied seven or more strikeouts in five of his nine starts this season and leads the team with 55.1 innings pitched and 57 strikeouts.
• Amani Jones tallied two or more RBIs in each of his last three games, bringin his season total to a team-leading 25.
• Carl Sansbury picked up his first-career save with two scoreless innings and a strikeout.
• Kevin Carricato tallied two RBIs in game two to bring his season total to 12.
• The Stevenson defense played well in game one with two double plays and no errors.

What's Next

• Stevenson travels to Messiah on Tuesday, April 26 for a MAC Commonwealth contest set for 3:30pm.