Friday, April 20, 2007 (Reading, Pa) – The Crusaders settled for a split with Cedar Crest College after being shut out in the first game 0-3, before recovering to take the second game 6-3. The first game saw pitcher Emily Williams (Minersville, PA/Nativity, BVM) surrender three runs, only one of which was earned while giving up seven hits over seven innings. Williams struck out ten, while only walking one Cedar Crest batter In the nightcap, Beth Jablonowski (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan) gave up seven hits as well but held onto the 6-3 victory after getting out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the sixth inning.
The Falcons from Cedar Crest jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning, after a Crusader error and a fielder’s choice pushed one across for Cedar Crest. They added one more in the third, again on an Alvernia error and finished their scoring in the sixth when two singles and two fielder’s choices produced one more run.
Alvernia was not without the chance to win the game, as they left the bases loaded in the first inning, and stranded two more in the bottom of the second inning. Their best chance to score came in the third inning when Williams earned a walk with one out. Up next, Jablonowski reached safely after Cedar Crest committed an error while trying to get Williams out at second. With runners now on second and third with only one out, the Falcons induced a ground-out and a fly ball to end the Crusader threat.
The second game began yet again with Cedar Crest scoring a run in the top of the first. This time however, Alvernia quickly answered back with two runs of their own off of a 2-RBI double from junior Jackie Rhoads (Dillsburg, PA/Northern York). The Falcons evened the score at two in the bottom of the third inning. The Crusaders put up a three spot in the fifth inning to secure the victory, highlighted by one out triple by Rhoads.
Rhoads was 4-for-8 on the day with two doubles, a triple, two runs scored and an RBI. Seven other Crusaders added one hit a piece.
