BOX SCORE

Reading, Pa. (Mar. 17, 2011) - The middle of the Alvernia University (9-1) lineup collected seven hits and five RBIs as the Crusaders opened the home schedule with an 8-1 win over New Jersey City University (2-7) Thursday afternoon in non-conference baseball action at Angelica Park.

The Crusaders, playing as the visiting team after the game couldn't be played Wednesday at NJCU, posted three runs in the second inning with just one hit and never trailed.  Travis Wramble (Newtown Square, Pa./Marple Newtown), batting in the six hole, had three hits in five at-bats and knocked in three.  Chris Gehris (Sinking Spring, Pa./Holy Name), batting fourth, and Reid Martin (Ephrata, Pa./Ephrata), batting fifth, both had two hits and an RBI.

Gehris was hit by a pitch to start the second--one of six hit batters in the game--and the Gothic Knights failed to get an out on Martin's fielder's choice grounder.  Wramble reached on an error that plated Gehris and Eric Domitrovits (Northampton, Pa./Northampton) followed with a sacrifice fly.  Matt O'Neil's (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) single up the middle was the first hit of the game for the Crusaders and it chased home their third run.

NJCU turned a hit batter into a run in the bottom of the second, but Alvernia starter Brock Laubenstine (Schuylkill Haven, Pa./Schuylkill Haven) stranded a runner at third to end the inning.

Alvernia pushed its lead to 5-1 with two runs in the fifth and scored one in the seventh and two more in the ninth.

Laubenstine lasted four innings giving up a run on six hits with a walk and six strikeouts.  Cody Smith (Hanover, Pa./Delone Catholic) threw four innings of relief without giving up a hit to earn the win.

Alvernia opens the conference schedule Friday at Arcadia and will host the Knights for a doubleheader on Saturday.

Alvernia 8, NJCU 1