GAME 1 BOX SCORE
GAME 2 BOX SCORE

Saturday March 29, 2008 (Reading, PA) - The Crusader softball team settled for a split with defending PAC Champions Neumann College this afternoon on their home field.   Alvernia dropped the first game of the doubleheader 7-1 and their fate looked sealed in the second game as well after they fell behind 4-0 in the first inning.  They battled back to take the second game 10-8 behind a go ahead double from freshman Michele Kassab (Pompton Lakes, NJ/Pompton Lakes).  With the win Alvernia improves to 10-5 (5-1 PAC).

Game one saw the Knights from Neumann put up four runs in the top of the second inning.  Neumann outfielder Lauren Gallagher lined a bases loaded triple down the right field line to get Neumann on the board and came around to score on an Alvernia error.

The Crusaders' best chance to score came in the bottom of the fifth inning when Janelle Lynch (Macungie, PA/Brandywine) led off the inning with a single, and catcher Colleen Ambrosius (Philadelphia, PA/St. Basil Academy) followed with a line drive up the middle and advanced to second on a Neumann error.  Alvernia now had runners on second and third with none out, but Neumann pitcher Angela Sebasto would retire the next three batters in order to snuff out the rally.  

Alvernia managed to put up one run in the sixth inning when Ashley Leonhard (Bernville, PA/Tulpehocken) battled hard for a double to the fence to score Emily Williams (Minersville, PA/Nativity) who has reached with single.

The Knights added three more runs in the sixth inning including a two-run homerun from Jennifer Goslin to put the game out of reach. 

Neumann was aided by five Alvernia errors throughout the first game and Knight pitcher Sebasto scattered only six hits and struck out 11 over seven innings of work.

The Knights from Neumann were looking for the sweep when they quickly put up four runs in the top of the first inning on two consecutive bloopers to right center field that were misplayed.   The Crusaders began to edge back with one run of their own in the first inning on an RBI single from Williams.  Neumann added another run in the second to take the 5-1 lead.

Alvernia finally managed their first true rally of the day in the fourth inning when they plated four runs, highlight by a two-RBI double from Lauren Crimi (Nazareth, PA/Notre Dame).  With the score now 5-4 in favor of the Knights they used the top of the fifth inning to launch back-to-back homeruns over the left field fence for some insurance, and added another on three singles.

For the second time of the game the Crusaders faced a four-run deficit, this time of the 8-4 fashion.  Undaunted they battled back with some timely hitting to push across six runs in the fifth inning to take the 10-8 lead.  Relief pitcher Leonhard led of the inning with a double and was followed by Jackie Rhoads (Dillsburg, PA/Northern York) who reached on an error.  The Crusaders then strung together a walk, a single and three two-out hits highlighted by a two-RBI double from Kassab to take the lead.

Leonhard shut down the pesky Knights through the sixth and seventh inning to secure the victory.  Sophomore Lynch was 5-for-7 on the day with three stolen bases and two runs scored and outfielder Crimi was 4-for-8. 

Alvernia will travel to Marywood tomorrow for a rescheduled doubleheader that begins at 1:00 pm.

Neumann 7, Alvernia 1
Alvernia 10, Neumann 8