BOX SCORE

Annville, Pa. (April 23, 2010) - Alvernia University (27-7, 12-4) scored 12 unanswered runs and freshman Brian Witkowski (Ewing, N.J./Notre Dame) tied the school record for triples in a game with two as the Crusaders opened the three-game series against Lebanon Valley (20-10, 8-5) with a 12-4 win in Commonwealth Conference baseball action at McGill Field.

The Dutchmen took a 4-0 lead in the second inning scoring four unearned runs on two errors and two hits off Alvernia starter Andrew Kirk (Media, Pa./Penncrest).  Kirk rebounded nicely to finish eight innings with just those four runs on three hits with 11 strikeouts.

The Crusaders got on the board in the third inning when Witkowski, who finished 4-for-4, opened with a single and stole second.  He scored on Chris Ray's (Exton, Pa./West Chester Henderson) and Ray scored on a single by Tim Ahlquist (Millville, N.J./Millville) to cut the Dutchmen lead in half.

They scored a single run in the fourth on Witkowski's first triple then took the lead for good with seven runs in the sixth capped by a three-run homer by Chuck Krichling (Chesterfield, N.J./Northern Burlington).

After the second inning Kirk faced just one batter over the minimum giving up just one two-out single in the sixth.

Alvernia added a single run in the seventh and the final run in the ninth when Witkowski tripled and scored.

Ray and Ahlquist finished with two hits each as did Reid Martin (Ephrata, Pa./Ephrata) and Matt Bruno (Norristown, Pa./Methacton).

Both teams head to Reading for Saturday's doubleheader starting at noon.

Alvernia 12, Lebanon Valley 4