Chester, Pa … Widener University scratched out a 5-3 victory over The College of New Jersey in a non-conference match-up on Wednesday afternoon in Chester, Pa.
 
The Lions punched out 11 singles in the game, but left eight on base as they dropped to 7-8 overall on the season. The Pride produced 10 hits in the contest, but took advantage of six free passes to move to 8-7. A run in the seventh broke a 3-3 tie and an additional unearned run in the eighth turned out to be the difference.
 
Widener touched TCNJ starting pitcher John Spinapont (Point Pleasant, NJ/Point Pleasant Boro) for a run in the first inning. A base hit, sacrifice bunt and RBI-single by Greg McDonough put the Pride on top.
 
The Lions bounced back with two runs in the second. Senior Josh Limon (Eastampton, NJ/Rancocas Valley) opened the inning with a single up the middle. Senior Michael Murray (Stewartsville, NJ/Phillipsburg) and sophomore CJ Gearhart (Robbinsville, NJ/Robbinsville) followed with singles to load the bases. With two outs, sophomore Ben Varone (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) delivered a base hit through the left side to plate Murray and Gearhart.
 
Widener came right back with two runs in the bottom of the second to push ahead 3-2. Sophomore Michael Elfreth singled to right to drive in freshman Joseph Addvensky, who had walked. An RBI-ground by senior Michael Rytelewski provided the Pride with their third run of the game.
 
TCNJ pulled even in the fifth. Junior Garen Turner (Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley) singled to left-center and raced to third when Limon stroked his second hit of the game to right-center field. Junior Matt Facas (Florham Park, NJ/Hanover Park) drove a 2-1 pitch to center field and Turner crossed home plate with the tying run.
 
Spinapont went five innings for the Lions, allowing three runs and seven hits while striking out one. Freshman Brandon Zachary (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) took over in the sixth. He worked out of a jam, inducing a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.
 
The Pride took the lead in seventh, however, as Rytelewski roped a lead-off double and scored on a base hit to left. Widener tacked on an insurance run in the eighth and junior Kevin Scisorek tossed a scoreless ninth for his first save of the season.
 
Limon finished with three hits for the Lions. Gearhart added a pair of safeties and freshman Mike Follet (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) collected his first collegiate hit.
Freshman Chris Barcas (Wall, NJ/Wall) worked an inning out of the bullpen and did not allow a hit, while striking out a batter.
 
TCNJ needs to shake this game off and focus on tomorrow's New Jersey Athletic Conference meeting with Stockton University. The Lions host the Ospreys at 3:30 p.m. at George Ackerman Park.