BOX SCORE
Reading, Pa. (May 13, 2011) - Alvernia University freshman
Mike Weinhold (Robesonia, Pa./Conrad Weiser) went six-plus innings and a pair of relievers--including usual starter
Chuck Nicholas (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown)--closed out a 9-3 win over St. John Fisher (25-10) Friday afternoon in non-conference baseball action at Angelica Park.
The Crusaders (35-7), who were ousted a little earlier than they had hoped from the conference playoffs, added the two-game series late as a way to keep the team in rhythm and strengthen their case for an at-large bid into the NCAA Regional which starts next Wednesday. The NCAA will announce regional teams on Monday morning.
Friday the Crusaders jumped out to an early lead, the same way they did in an 11-0 win over Fisher on Thursday.
Leon Stimpson (Philadelphia, Pa./Malvern Prep) led off with a solid single and stole second. He came around on
Brian Witkowski's (Ewing, N.J./Notre Dame) double, and three batters later
Aaron Carman (Robesonia, Pa./Conrad Weiser) ripped a bases-clearing triple to the fence in center.
Alvernia scored a run in the third and two more in the fourth for a 7-0 lead which was more than enough for Weinhold. The freshman lefty struck out the middle man in each of the first three innings and punched out the end man to close the top of the fourth. He got into a little trouble in the fifth giving up two runs on two hits with a walk, but ended that inning with a groundout and a flyout.
He pitched into the seventh and was lifted after giving up a one-out single. He finished with five strikeouts and two runs on five hits.
Cody Smith (Hanover, Pa./Delone Catholic) threw an inning and two-thirds and gave up a run on three hits. Nicholas threw the ninth and struck out a pair.
Stimpson was one of four players to register a multi-hit game for the Crusaders with a team-high three hits in five trips.
The Crusaders await Monday's announcement from the NCAA hoping to make their third straight trip to the regional.
#15/18 Alvernia 9, #23 St. John Fisher 3
