BOX SCORE

Reading, PA (March 31, 2006) – Junior pitcher Jason Zeigler (Shillington, PA/Governor Mifflin) struck out 10 batters in six innings of work and earned his 20th career win as Alvernia College defeated Gwynedd-Mercy College 15-7 Friday afternoon in Pennsylvania Athletic Conference baseball action at Alvernia.

            Zeigler struck out the side in the second and fourth innings and was the final of back-to-back-to-back homeruns with Eric Bonds (Lancaster, PA/Penn Manor) and Zach Lutz (Mohnton, PA/Governor Mifflin) as part of a 7-run third inning that blew open the game for the Crusaders (11-7, 2-2 PAC).  Kevin Dronson lasted just 2 2/3 innings for the Griffins (11-8, 3-1 PAC) exiting after the Lutz homerun.

            Gwynedd-Mercy scored twice in each of the first two innings and held a 4-3 lead after two.  Alvernia benefited from three GMC errors in the third inning.  Senior Ryan Zimmerman (Breinigsville, PA/Parkland) smacked a three run homer to center after an error and a walk, and after junior Scott Schuler (Aston, PA/Sun Valley) reached on an error, a pair of pop-outs preceded Bonds’ first homerun of the season.

            Alvernia posted single runs in the fourth and fifth innings and three more in the seventh.  Bonds finished the day 5-for-6 at the plate with two runs and three RBIs.  Chris Raniere (Manalapan, NJ/St. John Vianney) sent 3-for-4 with a pair of runs, and three other Crusaders picked up a pair of hits as the team racked up 18 hits on the day.

            Alvernia and Gwynedd-Mercy will face off in a doubleheader Saturday in Lower Gwynedd, to complete the 3-game series.

Alvernia 15, Gwynedd-Mercy 7