CHESTER, Pa. - Eastern Baseball held a 4-0 lead late in its conference opener against Widener on Friday afternoon, but a seven-run seventh frame for the Pride (6-6, 1-0) proved to be the difference in a 11-7 loss. Sophomore Brennan Moloughney put together a excellent start, allowing just five hits and two earned runs with four strikeouts, but the Pride (6-6) rattled off seven hits and nine runs against the Eastern relievers.

"Brennan had a quality start for us," Eastern Head Coach Scott Renauro said. "He executed pitches when needed to. We wanted him to go deep in this game and he did exactly what we asked for. Unfortunately, our bullpen lived up in the zone allowing them to get good swings off."

After three scoreless innings to begin the contest, Eastern (5-7, 0-1) struck first in the bottom of the fourth inning. Junior Leyton Bamesberger continued his strong season at the plate with a solo shot, his second of the season, to put the Eagles ahead 1-0. Of Bamesberger's 15 hits this season, nine have gone for extra bases. Matthew Gonglik also homered in the bottom of the seventh. Eastern finished with 11 hits in the contest, with Luke Meehan, Joe Paradise, and Thomas Kozlusky each finishing with a pair. 

"The offense is still swinging it really well," Renauro continued. "Gonglik and Bamesberger both had smashes, but the entire lineup continues to barrel baseballs."

The Eagles added two more runs in the fifth to increase their lead to 3-0. Gonglik hit a sacrifice fly for his first RBI of the day, scoring Trent MacDougall, and Robert Del Buono later scored on a strikeout where the Widener catcher had to make a throw to first base. In the sixth, MacDougall made it 4-0 Eastern on a sacrifice fly to center field, which scored first-year catcher Zach Mornell.

The Pride offense woke up in the top of the seventh, scoring seven runs on six hits. Widener hit for the cycle in the frame, including a double for Chris McKenna, a triple for Jack Balcer, and a three-run home run for Ryan Bauerle. By the end of the frame, the Pride turned their four-run deficit into a three-run lead.

Gonglik's first home of the season cut the Pride lead to two in the bottom of the seventh, but Widener answered back with three more runs in the top of the eighth frame. Kozlusky hit a double and later scored on a passed ball in the seventh to make it 10-7. The Eagles, however, would not draw any closer. Widener scored an insurance run in the top of the ninth to secure the four-run win.

"We still feel like we are in a good spot with where we are," Renauro concluded. "We just have to clean a few things up, but they will be ready to compete again tomorrow."

Eastern will be back in Chester tomorrow afternoon to conclude its season series with Widener. The first pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 12 noon.