Ft. Myers, Fl. (Mar. 1, 2015) - Alvernia University (2-0) posted big innings in its final at-bat twice on Sunday to sweep a season-opening doubleheader from John Carroll University (0-2) in non-conference baseball action.

Junior Chris Burns hit a 3-run homer that capped a 5-run seventh inning for the Crusaders in the opener.  Alvernia was down 6-2 after six innings and opened the seventh with a 4-pitch walk to Richie Ricciardi and a bases-loaded walk to Ben Sawyer.  Zach Nadolny singled in a run and Cameron Coons singled on a 1-2 pitch to drive in another.  Burns went down 0-2 on a pair of foul balls then smashed the first home run of the season out to left to put the Crusaders up 7-6.

Kevin Becker-Menditto started the seventh in a strikeout, then after a hit batter, enduced a game-ending double play for his 32nd career save.

In game two the Crusaders were down 2-0 heading to the bottom of the sixth.  Ricciardi started the inning with a walk and Sawyer did the same for the second straight game.  Burns struck out for the first out of the inning, but Ricciardi and Sawyer moved up during the at-bat on a wild pitch.  Coons followed with a strikeout, but reached on another passed ball to load the bases.

Dan George crushed the first pitch he saw into center for a bases-clearning double giving the Crusaders a 3-2 lead.  He was thrown out trying to stretch to a triple, but Alvernia was able to push across an insurance run when James Bertolotti scored on a throwing error by the JCU catcher.

Becker-Menditto got a pair of strikeouts around a comebacker for a 1-2-3 save.

Coons was 3-for-3 with a run and an RBI in the opener.  Burns was 2-for-4 with three RBIs all coming on the last-inning homer.  Louis Marotta went two and a third innings in relief giving up just three hits and no runs to pick up the win.

Bertolotti was 3-for-3 in game two with a run scored.  George was 1-for-3 with three RBIs.  Matt Osgoodby went an inning and two-thirds in relief of Kevin Short giving up just one hit with no runs.

Alvernia continues the spring break trip against Augustana on Monday morning.

Alvernia 7, John Carroll 6 (Game One)
Alvernia 4, John Carroll 2 (Game Two)