GAME 1 BOX SCORE
GAME 2 BOX SCORE

Wednesday, April 16, 2008 (Reading, PA) - The Blue Jays from Elizabethtown ended Alvernia's 14-game winning streak handing them an 8-2 loss in the second game of this afternoon's non-conference doubleheader.  The Crusaders took the first game 2-1 in eight innings, but fell in the second game after Elizabethtown went ahead 7-1 behind a six-run fourth inning.   Michelle Jensen (Holland, NJ/Delaware Valley) earned the win in game one scattering nine hits and one unearned run over eight innings and Emily Williams (Minersville, PA/Nativity BVM) fell to 9-4 with the loss in the second game.  Williams surrendered seven earned runs in 4 2/3 innings.

The first game was a scoreless affair through the regulation seven innings, with both pitchers stymieing the opposing offense.  Elizabethtown's best chance to score was in the first inning when lead-off batter Paige Turner connected for a double to the fence to start the game.  She was quickly sacrificed bunted to third base, but soon ran the Blue Jays out of the inning when she was doubled-off after Crusader center fielder Dina Chiappelli (Shippensburg, PA/Shippensburg) made a running catch in left-center field and quickly fired the ball into third base to catch her off the base.

The Crusaders were held to only three hits through seven innings and also were unable to capitalize on a first inning rally.  In the bottom half of the first Rhiannon Sorrentino (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) led off the inning with a walk and was bunted to second base.  Michele Kassab (Pompton Lakes, NJ/Pompton Lakes) reached and advanced to second on an error by the pitcher.  Alvernia now had runners on second and third with only one out, but failed to take advantage after two quick fly-outs.
 
The International Tie-Breaker rule was in effect in the eighth inning with both teams placing their last out on second base.  Elizabethtown managed to push one run across in the eighth thanks to a passed ball and a single up the middle.  Alvernia quickly took the game 2-1 in their half of the eighth inning when a slap-hit from Janelle Lynch (Macungie, PA/Brandywine) forced the shortstop to make an errant throw allowing one run to score and Lynch to advance to third.  Sorrentino stepped up with an infield hit to score Lynch for the win.

Game two saw the Blue Jays take the 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning and Alvernia tied the game at one in the third inning with an RBI double from Jackie Rhoads (Dillsburg, PA/Northern York).  Elizabethtown would then post a six-run fourth inning to put the game out of reach for the Crusaders.  They pushed six runs across with help from two infield singles, two walks and an error. 

The Crusaders added one more in the fifth inning after Rhoads and Williams led off the inning with back-to back singles and Williams eventually came around to score on a bases loaded walk. 

Alvernia will take on Misericordia and Cabrini this weekend in key conference doubleheaders.

Alvernia 2, Elizabethtown 1
Elizabethtown 8, Alvernia 2