BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2 BOX SCORE (Game One)
BOX SCORE (Game Two)

Salem, Va. (Feb. 25, 2012) - Tenth-ranked Alvernia University (1-1) opened up its 2012 season with a doubleheader split at Roanoke College (5-6) Saturday afternoon in non-conference baseball action.

Roanoke won the opener in dramatic fashion with a walk-off homer to left in the bottom of the seventh and Alvernia freshman Garrett Wrambel (Newtown Square, Pa./Marple Newtown) threw four hitless innings in his first collegiate start to earn the win in the nightcap.

Defending Commonwealth Conference Player of the Year Chris Ray (Exton, Pa./Henderson) got off to a strong start with five base hits in seven at-bats.  Travis Wrambel (Newtown Square, Pa./Marple Newtown) was right behind him going 4-for-6.

Alvernia scored twice in its first inning of the season on a Nole Saylor (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown) sacrifice fly and a double steal, but went without a run the last six innings.  Roanoke scored single runs in the fourth and fifth inning.  The first off starter Aaron Benusis (Bristol, Conn./Bristol Eastern) and the second off reliever Cody Smith (Hanover, Pa./Delone Catholic).  The game appeared headed for extra innings when Jeremy Hausdorf (Floral Park, N.Y./St. Mary's) got the first two out in the bottom of the seven, but Mark Manthe ended it with a long fly to left.

The Crusaders opened the scoring in game two on a Ray RBI-single to left in the third then tacked on four in the fourth on four hits, the big blow a Julian Faria (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) two-out, two-run triple.  Faria finished the game 3-for-4 with three runs and those two RBIs.  Ray also went 3-for-4 and had three RBIs.

Garrett Wrambel's day wasn't without a few bumps.  He walked three, but struck out six, including the last five he faced starting with a one-out bases loaded situation in the third.

Alvernia continues the non-conference schedule at Johns Hopkins on Monday.

Game One - Roanoke 3, Alvernia 2
Game Two - Alvernia 6, Roanoke 3