Box Score Chester, Pa. - Penn State Abington went on the road for another nonconference tilt earlier this afternoon, this time taking on the batsmen of Widener University. Despite scoring the first three runs of the game, the Nittany Lions fell to the Pride by a score of 9-6. Abington used seven pitchers to go the full eight innings, and Mike Kerns led the offensive output by going 4-for-5 with two RBIs.
 
In the top of the first inning, the Nittany Lions (17-16, 7-1 NEAC) got off to a terrific start. With one out, Mark McCouch and Kerns both reached base with back-to-back singles off of Pride starter Peter Pulhac. After a passed ball moved both runners up a base, Dan Hill loaded the bases with a walk. The next three batters all managed to knock in runs for the Blue and White, starting with Tom Ditro's bases loaded walk. Pat Moran followed that up with a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Kerns. Then, it was Ted Smallwood's turn, as the freshman singled, bringing in Hill on a throwing error by the Widener shortstop. By the time the hosts finally got out of the inning, the Nittany Lions held a 3-0 lead.
 
Widener (15-16, 8-7 MAC) struck back in the second and third innings to tie the game back up, however. In the second, back-to-back doubles by Michael Riverso and Dennis Hocker started the inning of with an early run. Later on, an RBI single from Kyle Summers cut the deficit to 3-2 in favor of Abington. Then, in the third, Marc Noyalis blasted a home run deep into left field to knot the game at 3-3.
 
Abington battled back to retake the lead the very next inning. With Dustin Kology and McCouch on second and third, Kerns stepped to the plate and laced a single into center field. This gave the Nittany Lions a 5-3 lead, which they held on to until the bottom of the sixth when things started to unravel. Widener pushed across five runs on five hits and two errors in that inning, with the big hit being a two-RBI single from Pat Rodier. The Nittany Lions were lucky to escape allowing only the five runs; when they did finally get out of the jam, it was on a bases loaded groundout. As it was, Abington now trailed 8-5 with just three innings to play.
 
The Nittany Lions did get one of those runs back in the top of the eighth on a huge home run from Jesse Goldstein that led off the inning. Unfortunately, Widener got that run right back in the bottom of the inning on a wild pitch, and the Pride held on to earn the 9-6 victory. Kerns led the squad offensively, while Kology went 2-for-4 himself with a run. Kerns, along with Ditro, Moran, and Goldstein contributed the RBIs. Chris Hunter got the start on the mound for the squad, while Robert Morak, Brian Camp, Sean McNeill, Ted Smallwood, Nicholas Cancelliere, and Kevin Faber combined to pitch the game out.
 
Abington now has a few days rest before an incredibly important weekend of games. The Nittany Lions hit the road on Saturday for a doubleheader against Gallaudet, who sit at third in the NEAC conference standings. Then, Abington comes home to face off against NEAC-leading Penn State Harrisburg. Game one against Harrisburg is set to start at 12:00 pm, and you can  get all your updates on the Nittany Lions and their playoff chase here at abingtonsports.com.