BOX SCORE

Reading, Pa. (Mar. 9, 2010) - Alvernia University (8-2) scored runs in seven of eight innings Tuesday afternoon and opened the home schedule with a 17-4 over Rowan University (3-3) in non-conference baseball action at Angelica Park.

Senior righty Shane Zellers (Wiconisco, Pa./Williams Valley) threw five and a third innings and gave up two runs, one earned, on six hits and three walks.  He struck out seven and improved to 3-0 this season.

Offensively the Crusaders scored nine runs over the first three innings and led 16-2 through six innings.  Sophomore third baseman Chuck Krichling (Chesterfield, N.J./Northern Burlington) was 2-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored and three RBIs.  Steve DeBarberie (Drexel Hill, Pa./Monsignor Bonner) and Tim Ahlquist (Millville, N.J./Millville) were both 3-for-4 at the plate.

Rowan leadoff hitter Matt Citro reached on a bunt single on the first pitch of the game, stole second, and moved to third with one out on a ground out to first, but Zellers left him there getting a strikeout and a ground ball to short.

Alvernia scored a pair of runs with two out in the bottom of the first on an RBI double by Krichling and an RBI single from DeBarberie.

Ahlquist scored on Brian Witkowski's (Ewing, N.J./Notre Dame) laced double down the right field line in the second, and the Crusaders plated six runs in the third.  The 6-7-8 hitters in the lineup all drove in a run, and Krichling capped it with a two-out, two-run single to center.

DeBarberie scored the lone run in the fourth and was the middle of three runs in the fifth and the last of three runs in the sixth as the Crusaders pulled away.

Junior Chuck Nicholas (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown) threw an inning and two-third of relief getting out of a bases-loaded, one out jam, and Mike Orban (Hellertown, Pa./Saucon Valley) and Jeremy Hausdorf (Floral Park, N.Y./St. Mary's) both threw an inning to close the game.

Witkowski finished with four RBIs and DeBarberie finished with four runs scored.

Alvernia returns to action Sunday at Catholic University.

Alvernia 17, Rowan 4