BOX SCORE

Reading, Pa. (Apr. 17, 2014) - Junior Ben Sawyer (Matawan, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) had a big day at the plate and freshman Ryan Sheekey (Scotch Plains, N.J./Roselle Catholic) improved to 5-0 with six solid innings as Alvernia University (21-8, 12-4) defeated Albright College (8-14, 6-11) Thursday afternoon in Commonwealth Conference baseball action at Angelica Park.

Sawyer lifted a sac fly in the second to score Matt Patterson (Hamilton, N.J./Nottingham) then launched a 3-run homer to right in the fourth that put the Crusaders up 4-0.

Sheekey allowed just two hits through the first five innings then ran into a bit of trouble in the sixth.  The Lions pushed home a run on a two-out single to center and had the bases loaded with two out before Sheekey ended the threat on a fly ball to center.

Sawyer single and scored on a Jason Clapper (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Lenape) triple in the bottom of the sixth.  Clapper then scored when Dustin Arnold (Annville, Pa./Lebanon Catholic) reached on an error for a 6-1 lead.

Sheekey surrendered a bases-loaded walk in the seventh and a run scoring single before turning the ball over to Matt Backlund (Yardville, N.J./Steinart) with one out and the potential go-ahead run at bat.  Backlund coaxed an inning-ending, 4-6-3 double play they pitched a 1-2-3 eighth.  Kevin Becker-Menditto (Frederick, Md./Walkersville) worked around some trouble in the ninth for his eighth save of the season.

Alvernia heads over to Albright on Saturday for a doubleheader to complete the 3-game series.

Alvernia 6, Albright 3