BOX SCORE

Reading, Pa. (Apr. 25, 2014) - Alvernia University (24-10, 13-6) opened the final three-game Commonwealth Conference series of the season with an 11-5 win over Arcadia University (8-23-1, 6-13) Friday afternoon at Angelica Park.

The Friday home game was another Armed Forces Day at Alvernia with university freshman and 15-year Air Force veteran Jeff Nevison throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.

Alvernia starter Mike Weinhold (Robesonia, Pa./Conrad Weiser) struggled with his control and walked 10 batters through the first two and two-thirds innings.  Sophomore Craig Mellinger (West Grove, Pa./Avon Grove) took over in the third and went two and a third innings to pick up his first career win.  Kevin Becker-Menditto (Frederick, Md./Walkersville) pitched the last three inning to pick up his ninth save of the season.

Alvernia plated a run in the second on a sacrifice fly from Chris Burns (Cherry Hill, N.J./Holy Cross), but Arcadia answered with four in the third sending 10 batters to the plate.  Weinhold opened the inning with a strikeout, but issued four walks in the first eight batters, the last two driving home a run.

Mellinger took the ball and plunked the first batter forcing home another run then got out of the inning with a grounder to second.

Alvernia pulled within a run at 4-3 on a two-run double from Burns in the fourth then took the lead with three runs in the fifth.  Jason Clapper (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Lenape) smashed a two-run triple--both runners reaching via walks--and Clapper scored on a Ben Sawyer (Matawan, N.J./Christian Brothers) single.

Matt Patterson (Hamilton, N.J./Nottingham) tripled in a run and scored on a Clapper double in the sixth as the Crusaders began to put some space between them and the Knights.

Arcadia pushed across a run in the eighth against Becker-Menditto, but Alvernia loaded the bases in the bottom of the frame and scored three more for the final margin.

Clapper was 4-fo-4 with three runs scored and three RBIs.  Patterson was 3-for-4 with four runs scored.  Burns finished the game with three RBIs.

Alvernia and Arcadia wrap up the series Saturday with a doubleheader at Arcadia.  Widener University beat Messiah College on Friday to remain one game ahead of Alvernia for the top spot in the conference championships.  The Crusaders hold the tie-breaker with Widener if the two teams finish the season tied.

Alvernia 11, Arcadia 5