BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2

Dallas, Pa. (May 11, 2014) – Alvernia University (26-15) swept McDaniel College (25-17) to claim the title of ECAC South Softball Champions. The Crusaders took game one 7-6 to force the if-necessary game, which they won 2-0.  

In the championship final and second game against McDaniel, one inning of scoring was all the Crusaders needed.

In the bottom of the second, Grim led off the inning with a single. Rachel Fritz (Kenhorst, Pa. / Governor Mifflin) then picked up the RBIs, lifting a two-run homer to left center to give the Crusaders a 2-0 lead.

McDaniel put runners on in the third, fourth, and fifth, but was unable to convert the runs.

The Crusaders were also able to stop a seventh inning threat, with Green Terror runners on second and third with two outs. Brittanie Wolfe (Pine Grove, Pa. / Pine Grove Area) was able to induce the fly ball to center to end the game.

Wolfe threw the complete game for the Crusaders, allowing just six hits and striking out two in seven innings of work.

In game one, both teams came out strong, putting on base runners in the first. Alvernia opened the inning by loading the bases, however it was unable to convert the run. McDaniel was able to capitalize on its runners, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the inning.

The Crusaders were able to chip away at the lead, bringing in a run in the third to cut the score to 2-1. Aly Shilling (Blue Bell, Pa. / Christopher Dock) led off the inning with a single through the left side of the field, and advanced to second when Amanda Turner (New Hyde Park, NY / New Hyde Park) walked. Felicia McKenna (Williamstown, NJ / Williamstown) made sure Shilling scored, ripping a single to right field.

Alvernia added another run in the top of the fourth to tie things up at two. Amanda Galanti (Red Bank, NJ / Marine Acad. Of Sci/Tech) provided a runner for the Crusaders, reaching on a walk. After advancing on a passed ball, Galanti came around to score on Samantha Penk's (Lincroft, NJ / Middletown South) double down the left field line.

However, the Green Terror answered in the bottom of the fourth, taking advantage of a Crusader error that extended the inning with an RBI single up the middle. McDaniel further stretched its lead in the bottom of the fifth, going ahead 4-2 on a sacrifice fly to center.

The Crusaders did not give up though, reclaiming the lead in the top of the sixth. Katie Manowski (Grasonville, Md. / Kent Island) started the offense, beating out a bunt single. Galanti was able to advance Manowski to second after she was hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second. After a wild pitched shifted the runners to second and third, Penk laid down the bunt on a suicide squeeze to plate Manowski. Galanti and Penk would come around to score later in the inning to a single by Shannon Grim (Williamstown, NJ / Williamstown), giving the Crusaders the 5-4 lead.

McDaniel was not done though, squaring things at five in the bottom of the inning. With runners on first and second, the Green Terror used a walk and a hit by pitch to bring around the tying run.

Alvernia responded in the top of the seventh, taking the lead for good. Brianna Kuhn (Elizabethtown, Pa. / Elizabethtown) became the game winning run as she started the inning with a walk. Manowski gave the Crusaders another base runner with a bunt single, moving Kuhn to two. With two outs, Shilling ripped a single to short that was too much for the fielder to handle. Kuhn came around to score on the bobble by short, giving Alvernia the 7-6.

Wolfe took the mound in the bottom of the seventh to relieve starter Brianna Fisher (Erial, NJ / Timber Creek Regional). McDaniel threatened to tie the game as the leadoff hitter hit a ball to deep center. However McKenna protected the Crusader lead, making a running catch over the fence for the first out of the inning. Wolfe then inducing two fly outs to secure the win and force the if-necessary championship game.

Fisher threw six complete innings for Alvernia, giving up just nine hits.

Wolfe was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. She recorded three wins and a save for the Crusaders during the tournament, including the win in the championship game.

With the win, Alvernia concludes its 2014 season.