BOX SCORE (Game One)
BOX SCORE (Game Two)
Reading, Pa (March 25, 2006) - The Alvernia College Crusaders improved their record to 7-9 (4-2 PAC) with a sweep of Marywood this afternoon, Marywood's record drops to 6-8 (0-4 PAC). After falling behind 3-0 in the first game, and 7-0 in the second game, the Crusaders rallied for a 5-3 first game win, and 13-8 for a second game victory.
The day got off to a bad start for the Crusaders, as lead-off batter for Marywood, Erika Cook (Wyalusing, PA/Wyalusing) took an 0-2 pitch off starter Emily Williams (Minersville, PA/Nativity) deep for a homerun. Williams collected herself and despite giving up two more hits and a walk in the first inning, managed to get out of the top of the first only giving up one run. After cruising through the second inning, and getting the first two outs in the third inning, Marywood capitalized on a walk, and an error by Alvernia rightfielder and scored both runners on a single by Melissa Brightbill (Pine Grove, PA/Pine Grove).
The score remained 3-0 for Marywood until the bottom of the fifth inning. Sophomore Hollie Dobson (Tallytown, PA/Pennsbury) started off the inning with a walk, and junior Allyson McCready (Williamstown, PA/Williams Valley) reached on an error by the third basemen. With runners now on second and third, junior Suzanne Fox (Glassboro, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) walked on a full count to load the bases. Sophomore Jackie Rhoads (Dillsburg, PA/Northern York) followed with another walk to get Alvernia on the board. With the bases still loaded, senior #Danielle Machamer# (Williamstown, PA/Williamstown) connected for a single to tie the game at three. Williams followed with a single, and freshman Lauren Crimi (Nazareth, PA/Notre Dame) stepped up with a single to put the Crusaders up by one. Sophomore Shannon Higgins (Blue Bell, PA/Wissahickan) added one more for Alvernia with a fielder's choice to the right side of the field that put Alvernia up 5-3.
Williams cruised through the sixth and seventh innings with three strikeouts and three flyouts to post Alvernia's third PAC victory. Alvernia's win over Marywood marked head coach Craig Wojszwillo's 200th victory in his 12 season's at Alvernia. Wojszwillo's overall record at Alvernia is now 201-187-2 (.515).
The second game of the twinbill saw Marywood jump out to a quick 7-0 lead, aided by five Crusader errors in first three innings. Despite being merely one run away from the 'eight-run rule' that would end the game, Alvernia battled back going ahead 8-7, scoring five runs in the third, and tagging on three more in the fourth. The third inning was highlighted by a three-run double by Machamer, with Crimi and McCready knocking in the other two runs. The fourth inning saw Alvernia's 2-3-4-5 hitters hit two doubles and two singles respectively, to add on three more runs, with Williams bringing around the go-ahead run.
Alvernia continued their offensive attack with four runs in the fifth inning, including a two-run homerun by Rhoads, scoring McCready who had singled to score Dobson. Dobson reached on an error by Marywood third basemen that brought Higgins around to score. Daher knocked in Alvernia's 13th run in the sixth inning with a solid single to plate Crimi.
Freshman Crimi was 3-for-7 on the day, with two RBIs and a stolen base. Rhoads and McCready were also 3-for-7, with Rhoads collecting six RBIs. Machamer continued her recent hot streak, and was 3-for-8 with three RBIs. Freshman pitcher Williams picked up her third win of the season and had 11 Ks on the day.
The Crusaders will travel to Wesley on Tuesday for a doubleheader at 3pm.
