BOX SCORE (Game One)
BOX SCORE (Game Two)

Reading, Pa. (April 24, 2010) - Junior Chuck Nicholas (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown) threw a four-hit shutout and Alvernia University (28-8, 13-5) split a doubleheader with Lebanon Valley College (21-11, 9-6) by scores of 3-1 and 5-0 Saturday afternoon in Commonwealth Conference baseball action at Angelica Park.

Alvernia freshman Chris Ray (Exton, Pa./West Chester Henderson), the first batter of game one for the Crusaders, doubled and scored, but the home scoring stopped there against LVC starter Shane Specht.

The Dutchmen had a runner cut down at the plate in the third, but tied the score in the fifth against Alvernia starter Shane Zellers (Wiconisco, Pa./Williams Valley) with a pair of base hits and aided by a wild pitch.  They took the lead for good with a pair of unearned runs in the sixth off reliever Brian Longo (Uncasville, Conn./Montville).

The Crusaders brought the tying run to the plate in both the sixth and the seventh, but failed to push a run across.

Alvernia put a pair of runs on the board in the third inning of game two in support of Nicholas.  Brian Witkowski (Ewing, N.J./Notre Dame) plated the first with a double and Nole Saylor (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown) pushed across another with a sacrifice fly.

LVC had a baserunner in the second, third, and fourth, and two in the fifth, but never got a man as far as third base.

Alvernia scored twice more to double its lead in the fourth and added the fifth run in the sixth.  Witkowski and Matt Bruno (Norristown, Pa./Methacton) finished game two with two hits.  Tim Ahlquist (Millville, N.J./Millville) added a hit in the second and had three on the day.

The Crusaders are the first team to finish the conference schedule with a bye next weekend.  Widener is the only team that can finish ahead of Alvernia in the standings.  The Pride play three games with Albright next weekend and must win all three to stay ahead of the Crusaders.

The Commonwealth playoffs feature the top four teams in a double-elimination playoff starting Thursday, May 6 at Owl's Field in Reading.  Widener has clinched a spot and the final two are up for grabs among Elizabethtown, Lebanon Valley, and Messiah.

Lebanon Valley 3, Alvernia 1 (Game One)
Alvernia 5, Lebanon Valley 0 (Game Two)