BOX SCORE (Game One)
BOX SCORE (Game Two)

Chandler, Az. (Mar. 11, 2007) – Alvernia College, which led the nation in runs scored last season, struggled to put runs on the board in sunny Arizona on Monday dropping both games of a doubleheader, 13-4 and 1-0, to SUNY Brockport in non-conference baseball action at the Greater Phoenix Invitational.

            Senior shortstop Chris Raniere (Manalapan, NJ/St. John Vianney) picked up two of Alvernia’s four hits on the day.  Jason Zeigler (Shillington, PA/Governor Mifflin) collected the only hit in game two for the Crusaders (3-2).

            Freshman Brian Longo (Uncasville, CT/Montville) went 3.2 innings in the opener giving up five runs, three earned, on eight hits, a walk, and three strikeouts.  Ben Reifsnyder (Wyomissing, PA/Wilson) gave up seven runs, six earned, in 1.2 innings and James Hein (Freemansburg, PA/Liberty) also went 1.2 innings giving up one earned run.

            Alvernia took a 3-2 lead with three runs in the bottom of the third inning, but gave it right back when the Golden Eagles posted three runs in the fourth.  The Crusaders plated their final run of the day in the fifth inning to cut the Brockport gap to 7-4, but five runs in the top of the sixth gave the Golden Eagles a 12-4 lead.

            Raniere led the Alvernia offense with two hits in three at-bats knocking in a pair of runs.  Steve DeBarberie (Drexel Hill, PA/Monsignor Bonner) was 1-for-2 with two runs scored and an RBI.  Brockport had seven players with two or more hits each including Tim Wilson who went 3-for-5 with three runs and an RBI.  Mark Caruana went 2-for-3 with three runs and two RBIs.

            Brockport scored the only run of the game in game two in its final at-bat on back-to-back base hits off Alvernia closer Andrew Long (Pottstown, PA/Pottstown).  Freshman Shane Zellers (Wiconisco, PA/Williams Valley) held the Golden Eagles off the board for six innings allowing four hits and a walk while striking out three.  Brockport’s Casey Scott went the distance giving up one hit and one walk.

            Alvernia continues the Arizona schedule facing perennial region power The College of New Jersey Monday afternoon.

Gm 1 – Brockport 13, Alvernia 4
Gm 2 – Brockport 1, Alvernia 0