BOX SCORE

Reading, Pa. (April 1, 2010) - Senior Shane Zellers (Wiconisco, Pa./Williams Valley) went the distance for his sixth win of the season, and junior Tim Ahlquist (Millville, N.J./Millville) delivered the big hit, a two-out double in the eighth, to lead Alvernia University (14-5, 4-3) to a 3-1 win over Albright College (5-13, 2-5) Thursday afternoon in Commonwealth Conference baseball action at Angelica Park.

Albright got to Zellers for an unearned run in the second inning when Jojo Fisher reached on an error with one out and Jon Raymond doubled him home.

The Crusaders trailed 1-0 until Steve Bealer (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown) scored to tie the game in the seventh.  The senior catcher also reached on an error, and after a Chuck Krichling (Chesterfield, N.J./Northern Burlington) single to center, scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Chazz Losito (Avondale, Pa./Avon Grove).

Zellers faced two more than the minimum after surrendering the run in the second and closed the eighth with back-to-back strikeouts.  He finished with 12 Ks -- his third straight double digit outing.

Jeff Smith (Sinking Spring, Pa./Holy Name) singled with one out in the bottom of the eighth.  Alvernia head coach Yogi Lutz elected to sacrifice Smith to second setting up Ahlquist with two out and a runner at second.  The junior second baseman, hitting second for the second straight day, came through ripping a Casey Lawrence fastball to left center to plate Smith.  Bealer then followed with a single for insurance bringing in Ahlquist.

Zellers returned to the mound for the ninth and quickly retired the first two batters of the inning.  He made things interesting by putting the tying run at first on back-to-back singles, but got Raymond on a comebacker to end the game.

The win was the 20th career victory for Zellers, making him the sixth pitcher in school history to reach 20 wins.

Alvernia is off for Easter break and will finish the three-game conference series with Albright on Monday at Albright.

Alvernia 3, Albright 1