BOX SCORE

Ft. Pierce, Fla. (March 12, 2011) - Alvernia University (8-1) won its eighth straight game on Saturday beating former PAC foe Neumann University (8-1) by a final score of 14-5. The Crusaders exploded for 16 hits in the nine inning contest setting their season high in hits and runs scored.

Alvernia took the lead in the first inning after leadoff batter Leon Stimpson singled and scored on a 2-run homerun by Brian Witkowski over the wall in right center. The Crusaders tacked on another two runs in the second after Travis Wrambel reached on an error by the third baseman and later scored on a single by Tim Ahlquist. The Crusaders second run of the inning came on a single by Chris Ray that plated Eric Domitrovits.

On the mound, freshman Mike Weinhold started slow but found his rhythm as the game progressed. Weinhold gave up a run in the first after walking Neumann leadoff batter Bobby Callan who later scored on an error. Weinhold gave up another run in the second after giving up four walks in the inning plating Ross Sweeney.

In the top of the third, the Crusaders added another run after Chris Gehris led off the inning with a double and later scored on a double down the left field line by Wrambel. Wrambel drove in another run in the fifth on another double down the left field line that plated shortstop Reid Martin.

Weinhold cruised through the third and fourth innings before giving up the third Neumann run after a single by Kevin Hopkins who stole second, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch. Weinhold gave up three runs, two earned, on the day while recording seven strikeouts allowing only two hits.

Alvernia continued to extend its lead adding a run in the top of the sixth before putting the game out of reach for good in the seventh scoring five runs on four hits highlighted by a two run triple by Gehris scoring Witkowski and Ray.

The Crusader bullpen took over in the seventh when Laubenstine relieved Weinhold and did not allow a run. Junior Jeremy Hausdorf threw the eighth giving up a run after a Crusaders error and an eventual Neumann groundout before he struck out the last two batters of the inning bringing the score to 12-4.

In the top of the ninth the Crusaders added two more runs with RBI's from Gehris and Aaron Carman making it a 14-4 game before giving the ball to Austin Rohrbach in the ninth. Rohrbach allowed one run in the ninth after a single, a groundout and two wild pitches scored pinch hitter Brandon Kenish. Rohrbach then wrapped up the game with two consecutive strikeouts giving the Crusaders a 14-5 victory.

Weinhold picked up his second win in as many starts while the Crusaders were led at the plate by Gehris, Witkowski, and Wrambel who each had three RBI's on the day. Ray added two more RBI's and recorded three hits. The Crusaders pitching staff combined for double digit strikeouts for the fifth consecutive game while allowing only four hits in the game.

Alvernia will head to Baltimore, Md. on Tuesday to take on #6 Johns Hopkins University (3-0) in non-conference action.

Alvernia 14, Neumann 5