BOX SCORE

Reading, PA (April 28, 2006) – Alvernia College racked up six of its 19 hits and six runs in the second inning opening up a 6-1 lead en route to a 17-4 win over College Misericordia Friday afternoon in Pennsylvania Athletic Conference baseball action at Alvernia.

            Junior Chris Raniere (Manalapan, NJ/St. John Vianney) and sophomore Steve Burdan (Pottstown, PA/Pottstown) opened the home half of the second inning with back-to-back singles and came around to score on singles from Edwin Tavarez (Reading, PA/Reading) and Tim Carroll (Bensalem, PA/Conwell-Egan).

            Raniere smacked a two-run home run to left field in the seventh as the Crusaders’ lead grew to 12-4 and Burdan’s three-run home run was part of a five-run eighth that set the 17-4 final.  Burdan finished the game with four hits in six at-bats, three runs batted in, and a pair of runs scored.

            Carroll, Eric Bonds (Lancaster, PA/Penn Manor), and Jason Zeigler (Shillington, PA/Governor Mifflin) all collected three hits.  Bonds, the nation’s leader in runs scored, crossed the plate three times and knocked in one.

            Alvernia starter Billy Moore (Cochranville, PA/Octorara) shut down the Cougars offense limiting the guests to three runs on four hits over six innings.  Moore picked up his second win of the year striking out six and walking three.

            The Crusaders, currently third in the PAC, will complete the regular season with a trip to Misericordia on Saturday for a doubleheader with the Cougars.

Alvernia 17, Misericordia 4