BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2

Clermont, Fl. (March 10, 2014) -  The Crusaders opened their 2014 season with a split day on Monday at the National Training Center in Clermont, Florida. Alvernia University (1-1) defeated Salve Regina University 9-0 in a mercy-ruled six inning game before dropping an early lead in an 11-10 loss to Juniata College (1-3).

In the opener, Alvernia started the scoring early, putting up three runs in the first top of the first. Led by a triple by senior Samantha Penk (Lincroft, N.J./Middletown South), the Crusaders linked together back-to-back RBI hits by  sophomore Aly Shilling (Blue Bell, Pa /Christopher Dock) and freshman Amanda Turner (New Hyde Park, N.Y/New Hyde Park Memorial).

Penk started the offense again in the third, notching her second triple of the game. Junior Shannon Grim (Williamstown, N.J./Williamstown) followed suit two batters later, picking up the triple and an RBI. Grim then scored on a sacrifice fly by Shilling.

After picking up a run in the fourth, the Crusaders tacked on three more in the sixth as Turner tripled to left and picked up two more RBIs.

Junior Brittanie Wolfe (Pine Grove, Pa./Pine Grove Area) picked up the win on the mound, tossing a four hit shutout in six innings of work.

Alvernia came out strong in game two, posting seven runs in the bottom of the first. With the bases loaded, Shilling ripped a triple, plating three runs. Later in the inning, with runners on second and third, junior Felicia McKenna (Williamstown, N.J,/Williamstown) scored two on a single.

Shilling added on another run for Alvernia with a solo homerun in the second. 

Juniata picked up four runs across the first three innings, cutting down the Crusaders lead to 8-4. Sophomore Breanna Worrell (Wenonah,N.J./Deptford Township) used her RBI double in the fourth to try and extend the lead, but Juniata answered back in the fifth with a six run inning to lead the Crusaders 10-9. The Crusaders responded in the sixth when senior Amanda Galanti (Red Bank, N.J./Marine Acad. Of Sci/Tech), who reached base on a 1-out double, crossed the plate after a fielding error by Juniata. However, Juniata capitalized on an Alvernia error in the seventh to take the lead and the win.

Penk was 3-for-5 on the day with three walks and six runs scored. Shilling was 4-for-6 with six RBIs.

Alvernia returns to action tomorrow at 1pm against Farmingdale State and 3pm against The College of New Jersey.