BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2

Reading, Pa. (March 20, 2014) - The Crusaders came out strong in their home opener, taking two from Penn State Berks (6-2) on Thursday at Angelica Park. Alvernia University (7-3) won with back to back shut outs, capturing a 2-0 victory in game one and an 8-0, five inning mercy rule win in game two.

In game one, the Crusaders posted their first run in the bottom of the first. After senior Katie Manowski (Grasonville, Md. / Kent Island) reached on an error by Berks second baseman Abby Staskiel, senior Samantha Penk (Lincroft, NJ / Middletown South) put down the sacrifice bunt to move Manowski to second. Two batters later, freshman Amanda Turner (New Hyde Park, NY / New Hyde Park Memorial High School) hit a single to center to score Manowski.

Alvernia would strike again in the fourth, scoring its second run of the game. Manowski was involved again, hitting an RBI single to score sophomore Rachel Fritz (Kenhorst, Pa. / Governor Mifflin), who lead off the inning with a double to left field.
Freshman Brianna Fisher (Erial, NJ / Timber Creek Regional) threw the complete game win in game one, picking up her first win and shut out of the season.

In game two, the Crusaders attacked early, posting three runs each in the first and second inning. In the bottom of the first, Manowski lead things off with a single, followed by a stolen base to put her in scoring position. Senior Amanda Galanti (Red Bank, NJ / Marine Acad. Of Sci/Tech) hit into a fielder's choice, moving Manowski to third. She would score on the next pitch when Berks third baseman Chelsea Bright made an error on a hard ground ball by Breanna Worrell (Wenonah, NJ / Deptford Township). Alvernia continued to build on the Lion mistake as Aly Shilling (Blue Bell, Pa. / Christopher Dock) responded to the error with a base hit. With two on, junior Shannon Grim (Williamstown, NJ / Williamstown) ripped a double to left center, picking up two RBIs.

In the second, Fritz led off with a single which was quickly followed by a double by junior Brianna Kuhn (Elizabethtown, Pa. / Elizabethtown). Manowski then picked up her second RBI of the day on a sacrifice fly to center to score Fritz. Galanti picked up an RBI shortly after on a base knock to score Kuhn, and came around to score on a double to right by Worrell.

The Crusaders added their last two runs in the third in just two batters. After Grim started the inning with a walk, junior Felicia McKenna (Williamstown, NJ / Williamstown) blasted a two run homerun to left, putting Alvernia in position to end the game in five innings.

Junior Brittanie Wolfe (Pine Grove, Pa. / Pine Grove Area) tossed the complete game win and shut out, picking up her fifth win of the season.

Alvernia returns to action on Sunday, hosting Stockton College at 12:00 pm.