Myrtle Beach, SC (Thursday, March 15, 2007) – Alvernia softball wrapped up the Myrtle Beach Snowbird Softball Tournament on a high note with one-run victories over Gordon College and Gettysburg College to finish with a 5-3 record. Sophomore pitcher Lauren Crimi (Nazareth, PA/Notre Dame) captured the complete game 3-2 victory over Gordon. Fellow sophomore pitcher Emily Williams (Minersville, PA/Nativity BVM) earned the win in the second game, scattering only five hits and surrendering no walks for the narrow 1-0 victory over Gettysburg.
In the opener against Gordon, Alvernia scored all three of their runs in the second inning with an RBI-double by freshman Janelle Lynch (Macungie, PA/Brandywine Heights), followed by an RBI-single off the bat of Crimi. Crimi’s hit put the Crusaders up 3-2, after Gordon had scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning. The score remained knotted at 3-2 for the remainder of the game, with Alvernia holding on for the narrow victory.
The final game of the week saw Alvernia battle with Gettysburg through seven innings. Prior to the seventh inning Alvernia allowed only one Gettysburg runner to reach third base, Gettysburg was nearly as tough with only two Crusader runners reaching third base. With one out in the bottom of the seventh, senior Alyson McCready (Williamstown, PA/Williams Valley) was hit by a pitch to start the rally. Freshman Rachel Evans (Tower City, PA/Williams Valley) laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance pinch runner Lynch all the way to third base. Sophomore Shannon Higgins (Blue Bell, PA/Wissahickan) battled the Gettysburg pitcher and eventually connected for a hard shot to the third basemen, who bobbled to ball allowing Higgins beat out the throw and score Lynch.
