BOX SCORE
Reading, PA (Mar. 22, 2006) – Alvernia College got hits from eight of nine starters and scored in each of the first five innings in a 13-5 win over DeSales University Wednesday afternoon in non-conference baseball action at Alvernia.
Junior outfielder Ben Reifsnyder (Wyomissing, PA/Wilson) knocked in four runs in the nine hole on two hits and sophomore Pete Fernandez (Bogota, NJ/Bogotz), the first of four different pitchers to toe the rubber for the Crusaders, earned the win giving up one unearned run in three innings.
Alvernia (8-4) opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with three runs on four hits. Sophomore shortstop Tim Frisch (New Freedom, PA/Susquehannock) doubled to right with one out and scored when Zach Lutz (Mohnton, PA/Governor Mifflin) hit a looper that eluded DSU rightfielder Mike Bianca (Ellicott City, MD/Mt. St. Joseph). Lutz took third on a groundout and scored on a John Pisker (Oley, PA/Oley Valley) throwing error. Junior Chris Raniere (Manalapan, NJ/St. John Vianney), who doubled off the fence in right, scored on a Steve Burdan (Pottstown, PA/Pottstown) single before Reifsnyder grounded out with the bases loaded to end the inning.
Alvernia tacked on another run in the second after setting down the Bulldogs (5-5) in the top of the frame. Ryan Mark (Pennsburg, PA/Upper Perkiomen) opened the inning with a single and scored on Jason Zeigler’s (Mohnton, PA/Governor Mifflin) two-out single.
DSU put an unearned run on the board in the third. Matt Connors (Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) reached on an error and scored with two outs when Andrew Heard (Alexandria, VA/Hayfield) knocked a double of the bottom of the fence in right. The Bulldogs threatened for more off Fernandez after a walk to Scott Matejicka (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall), but Matt Johanson (Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) popped out to short to end the inning.
The Crusaders posted two more runs in the third, but gave them right back in the top of the fourth when the Bulldogs scored twice off reliever Billy Moore (Cochranville, PA/Octorara) on two hits and an error.
Alvernia responded sending 10 batters to the plate in the fourth scoring five times. Lutz and Zeigler both reached to start the inning. Raniere bunted them over the second and third and after back-to-back walks to Burdan and Zimmerman, catcher Scott Schuler (Aston, PA/Sun Valley) slapped a two-run double down the left field line to put the Crusaders up 9-3. Reifsnyder lifted a sacrifice fly to center and Mark’s single knocked in Schuler for an 11-3 lead.
Alvernia scored twice more in the fifth on three hits and a pair of DeSales errors to take a 13-3 lead. DeSales knocked home a pair of runs with two outs in the seventh and, with the bases loaded, was one big hit from getting back into the game when sophomore reliever Jeremy Hess (Orwigsburg, PA/Blue Mountain) induced a ground ball to end the threat.
Alvernia will open up the conference schedule on Friday afternoon with a 3:00 game at Arcadia University.
Alvernia 13, DeSales 5
