CHESTER, Pa.--Eastern Baseball struggled to put runners on base at Widener University through the first five innings on Wednesday, but loaded the bases in the sixth and threatened to break the game open. However, the Widener Pride escaped the bases-loaded jam and held on for the 5-2 win.

The Eagles trailed 4-0 after five innings. Widener's starting pitcher, Shawn Barton earned his first win of the season, allowing just three Eastern hits through five innings. Eagles' pitcher Tom Gordon had the Eagles' first hit of the game in the top of the third. Gordon went 1-for-2 at the plate, but took the loss on the mound. Gordon lasted 5.2 innings on the hill, allowing four runs, three unearned on seven hits and four walks.

In the top of the sixth, Ryan McMenamin singled on the first pitch of the inning and ended Barton's day on the hill. McMenamin, who went 1-for-4 on the day, has hit safely in all 20 of the games he's played this season. McMenamin is closing in on Scott Renauro's 22 game hit-streak set in 2010.

Widener's relief pitcher Kevin Scisorek then plunked Andrew DiFerdinando, and then Andrew Check singled to load the bases with no one out. Joe Grato jumped on the first pitch of his at-bat and singled to right field to score McMenamin. The Pride then brought in another relief pitcher, Dominic Bisirri. Eric Rossi took Bisirri's 2-0 pitch for a ride into right field for a single to score DiFerdinando. Eric Rossi, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI, is hitting the ball well in his last five games. Rossi is batting 10-for-20 with 14 RBIs during that span.

The Eagles couldn't squeeze any more runs out of the bases-loaded situation, however. Bisirri got Joseph De Los Santos to ground into a fielder's choice with Check getting thrown out at home, and then struck out Dillon Schwartzer and Marcus Sistrun swinging to end the inning and leave the bases loaded.

Eastern loaded the bases again in the top of the seventh, but Grato grounded into a double play to end the inning.

Eastern will take the field on Thursday afternoon in another non-conference contest against the Wesley College Wolverines.

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