Dallas, Pa. (May 6, 2006) - The Crusader softball team was defeated by College Misericordia 0-8 in their first game of the PAC Championship Tournament.  Starter Emily Williams (Minersville, Pa/Nativity BVM) was tagged with the loss, after allowing five earned runs and giving up five hits and four walks.

Alvernia's offense was stifled by the pitching of Misericordia senior Kristi Devens who struck out 10 batters in only five innings.  The Crusaders managed only one hit off the bat of Williams throughout the entire game, and Devens did not walk any Alvernia batters.

Misericordia jumped on the board in the bottom of the first inning, after a two-out walk was followed by a long double to left that plated their first run.  After adding two more in the third inning on a walk followed by a towering homerun to right field, Misericordia added another two in the fourth and three in the fifth.  The game-ending hit came in the form of a single up the middle off the bat of Kirsten Peters.