BOX SCORE
Grantham, Pa. (May 5, 2012) - Alvernia junior Deanna Dungee (North Wales, Pa./North Penn) handed a stunned Messiah (35-7) their first loss to a conference team this season as she threw a complete game, seven-hitter gem to advance Alvernia (35-9) into the 'if necessary' championship game, winner take all.

It was the home team, Falcons, who struck first with two runs in the bottom of the third inning.  They earned both runs fair and square with three solid singles off of Dungee.  A flyout to right field ended the threat and left one runner stranded.

All-Conference Second Team selection freshman Shannon Grim (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) got her team right back into it with a double to the wall to lead-off the fourth inning and after a passed ball found herself on third base.  Messiah pitching got the best of Alvernia's next two batters and seem poised to strand Grim.  But, Felicia McKenna (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) earned a nice two-out walk to put runners on the corners with two out.  With the Falcon outfield scary-shallow, Amanda Galanti (Red Bank, NJ/Marine Acad. of Sci./Tech.) took advantage with a double over the left fielder's head to score both and tie the game at two.  Galanti's attempt to take third after the throw home was thwarted by the tight Falcon defense.

Dungee did her job through the fourth and fifth inning, allowing just one hit through both frames.

The Crusaders broke through in the top of the sixth with the go-ahead run.  Senior catcher Diane Lightner (Gaithersburg, Md./Acad. of the Holy Cross) battled for a one-out single through the left side and a double from McKenna put runners on second and third.  Galanti did her job and put the ball on the ground to shortstop.  With both runners taking off, the Falcon defense got tied up a bit, and after a play on Galanti first everyone was safe and Alvernia was up 3-2.  Two quick outs from the Crusaders ended the threat and stranded two.

The Falcons threatened in their half of the sixth with two singles to put runners on second and third with just one out.  Dungee forced a groundout to herself that held the runner at third and a flyout to center to escape unharmed.

Alvernia, sensing the need for some insurance, got back down to work in the top of the seventh.  Miranda Peto (Phoenixville, Pa./Phoenixville) was hit by a pitch on a 1-2 count to start the inning.  Samantha Penk (Lincroft, NJ/Middletown South) followed with a single through the left side, and Grim blasted a single to right field to score Peto.  With Grim advancing to second on the play at the plate on Peto, Alvernia had runners at second and third with nobody out.  Danielle Kitchen (Saylorsburg, Pa./Pleasant Valley) managed a ground ball to shortstop, and again, with Crusader runners in motion, the Falcon defense got a little unsteady and committed an error on the attempt to get Kitchen at first, allowing both Penk and Grim to score and put Alvernia up 6-2.  With Kitchen now on second, Lightner grounded out to third base, but the throw back to get the advancing Kitchen was high, allowing Kitchen to scamper across home and give Alvernia a healthy 7-2 margin.

Dungee held the Falcons scoreless to end the game and hand them their first loss to a conference team this year.  With the win, Alvernia forces the 'if necessary' game against Messiah, winner takes the conference title.

Alvernia 7, Messiah 2