BOX SCORE

Ewing, N.J. (Mar. 28, 2012) - Five of the top six batters in the lineup had at least two hits and senior starter Andrew Kirk (Media, Pa./Penncrest) threw seven solid innings to lead Alvernia University (15-6-1) to its sixth straight win with an 11-2 decision at The College of New Jersey (11-8) Wednesday afternoon in non-conference baseball action at TCNJ.

It was the third straight win over NJAC competition for the Crusaders in a week with wins over #12 Rowan and #4 Kean in the last seven days.

Nole Saylor (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown) was the highlight in the lineup going 4-for-5 with a home run, four runs scored, and two RBIs at the top of the lineup.  Brian Witkowski (Ewing, N.J./Notre Dame) was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, Chris Ray (Exton, Pa./West Chester Henderson) was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and both Eric Domitrovits (Northampton, Pa./Northampton) and Richie Riccardi (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) went 2-for-5.

Kirk went seven innings and gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits with four walks and eight strikeouts.  Junior reliever Anthony Gambino (Allentown, Pa./Allentown) struck out the side in the eighth and Cody Smith (Hanover, Pa./Delone Catholic) pitched a scoreless ninth to close the game.

The Crusaders scored in the opening inning on an RBI-single up the middle from Ray, had a pair of two-run innings in the third and fourth then hit the Lions with a big blow scoring four in the sixth.  Witkowski had a two-run single with the bases loaded in the sixth and Ray followed with another run-scoring hit.

The Crusaders continue against tough regional opponents when they travel to Manhattanville College this Sunday for a doubleheader.  The visit Gwynedd-Mercy on Tuesday before returning to the conference schedule with a three-game series against Albright starting with a single game next Thursday at Angelica Park.

Alvernia 11, TCNJ 2