Story provided by Cabrini Sports Information
RADNOR, Pa. (March 24) -- Alvernia freshman Emily Williams (Nativity BVM) tossed a three-hitter to win the first game 4-0 but took the loss in relief in the nightcap Friday as host Cabrini rallied from 3-0 down for an 8-3 victory and a split of their PAC doubleheader. Alvernia Head Coach Craig Wojszwillo picked up his 199th coaching victory in his 12th season in the opener.
Senior first baseman Danielle Machamer (Williamstown) homered in both games for Alvernia (5-9, 3-3), going 5 for 8 on the day with five RBIs. She's recovered from a slow start to hit .429 over the last seven games.
Cabrini first baseman Megan O'Brien, who went 0 for 3 against Williams in the opener, doubled in the tying run against her in the third inning of the nightcap and followed up an inning later with her first collegiate grand slam, giving the Cavaliers (3-10, 2-2) back-to-back four-run rallies just when Alvernia seemed on the verge of a sweep.
Williams was dominant in the opener, striking out six batters in seven innings and cruising to her first collegiate victory after five mostly hard-luck losses, including a 1-0 setback against Immaculata on Wednesday.
Freshman third baseman Kristie Sandefur had two of Cabrini's three hits in the first game, a second-inning single and a fourth-inning triple. But Williams stranded her on third both times, choking off the first rally with back-to-back strikeouts and ending the second threat with another punchout.
Meanwhile Alvernia pushed across two unearned runs in the second inning and tacked on Machamer's two-run homer in the top of the seventh. Machamer added a three-run shot in the nightcap, staking the Crusaders to a 3-0 lead in the third.
But in the bottom of the inning, Cabrini loaded the bases on starter Beth Jablonowski with two infield hits and a walk. Williams took her place, and freshman shorstop Caitlin McDevitt greeted her by ripping a wicked grounder through the third baseman's legs for a two-run error.
O'Brien doubled in the tying run moments later, Sandefur sent her to third with a single to center, and freshman catcher Andrea Mory put Cabrini on top 4-3 with a RBI single to left. O'Brien rocked Williams with her two-out grand slam in the fourth, giving the Cavs a five-run lead and allowing the game to be called on account of darkness after 5 1/2 innings.
Game One: Alvernia 4, Cabrini 0
Game Two: Cabrini 8, Alvernia 3
