BOX SCORE

Reading, Pa. (Apr. 23, 2014) - Alvernia University (23-10) got five terrific innings from Matt Backlund (Yardville, N.J./Steinert) in relief and posted double digit runs for the second time in three days in a 14-8 win over #21 Moravian College (26-8) Wednesday afternoon in non-conference baseball action at Angelica Park.

Moravian put a pair of runs on the board in the first inning, but Alvernia answered right back with four in the home half of the first.  The offenses continued to click with Moravian coming back with two runs in the second to tie the score at 4-4 after an inning and a half.

Both teams went scoreless in their next at-bats and Alvernia took control with a 5-run third.  Matt Patterson (Hamiton, N.J./Nottingham) doubled to center to drive in a run, Chris Burns (Cherry Hill, N.J./Holy Cross) delivered an RBI-single and Dustin Stuck (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra) cranked a 3-run homer to center to give the Crusaders a 9-4 lead.

Moravian wouldn't go quietly.  The Greyhounds answered the Crusaders five with three of their own in the top of the fourth, but Alvernia stayed hot with two in the fourth and three more in the fifth.

Alvernia went to the pen for Backlund in relief of Ryan Sheekey (Scotch Plains, N.J./Roselle Catholic) for the top of the fifth and he held the Greyhounds silent in three straight innings.

Moravian got a run in the eighth, but it only pulled them within six, 14-8, with an inning to go.  Backlund closed out his first win of the season with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.  He allowed just the one run (unearned) on three hits and two walks.

Four players had multi-hit games for the Crusaders.  Richie Ricciardi (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) went 4-for-5 with three runs scored, Zach Nadolny (Sparks, Md./Bel Air) was 2-for-2 with two walks and three runs score, and Patterson was 3-for-4 with four RBIs.

Alvernia returns to conference play for the final series of the regular season on Friday hosting Arcadia.  The Crusaders could finish first in the league if they can catch Widener which sits one game ahead with three to go.

The Commonwealth Championships will be contested starting next Thursday in a 4-team double-eliminate tournament at Santander Stadium in York.