Dover, DE (Sunday, March 4, 2007) – Alvernia College (2-0) opened their season at Wesley College with a 6-3, 13-3 sweep of Franklin & Marshall (1-2) on Sunday, March 4, 2007. These games saw head coach Yogi Lutz open his 22nd season here at Alvernia, and record his 498th and 499th victory. Senior Jason Zeigler (Mohnton, PA/Governor Mifflin) tossed six innings in the first game, giving up five hits and three earned runs, and striking out six for his first win of the season. This 6-3 win over F&M was Zeigler’s 25th career win, placing him first all time in career wins at Alvernia. Freshman Brian Longo (Uncasville, CT/Montville) pitched four innings in the second game, giving up no earned runs to record the victory.
The first game saw the Crusaders capitalize early when sophomore Eric Focht (Emmaus, PA/Emmaus) was hit by a pitch to start the rally, he then stole second and advanced to third on a single by junior Zach Lutz (Mohnton, PA/Governor Mifflin). Focht and Lutz then successfully completed a double steal, scoring Focht for their first run of the game. After senior Chris Raniere (Manalapan, NJ/St. John Vianney) was hit by a pitch, junior Dale Curry (Philadelphia, PA/Father Judge) connected for a single to put Alvernia up 2-0 in the top of the first. The Crusaders struck again in the fifth inning when junior Tim Carroll (Bensalem, PA/Conwell-Egan) led off the inning with an infield single, and eventually scored on a single by Curry. Alvernia tacked on three more runs in the sixth, on three singles and a wild pitch. F&M scored all three of their runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, and had five players with one hit each.
In the second game of the doubleheader, the Crusaders again capitalized early putting up a three spot in the top of the first inning on a 2-RBI double by Lutz, followed up by an RBI single by Raniere. They added one more in the fourth, and four in the fifth highlighted by a 2-RBI double by Curry. Alvernia wasn’t done yet, as they posted four more runs in the seventh inning. Junior Steve Burdan (Pottstown, PA/Pottstown) led off the inning with an infield single, and was followed by pinch hitter Chris Simocini (East Berlin, PA/Bermudian Springs) who connected for a single up the middle. After two walks, a single, and an error the Crusaders had posted four more runs.
Carroll led the Crusaders going 4-for-9 on the day with four runs scored and three RBIs, Lutz added a 3-for-8 performance with two runs scored and two RBIs. Alvernia is now gearing up for their spring break trip to Arizona, with their next game on Sunday, March 10 versus Rutgers-Camden.
