Reading, Pa. (Mar. 24, 2015) - Alvernia University (10-5, 3-1) used two separate four-run innings in a doubleheader sweep of Messiah College (3-5, 3-3) Tuesday afternoon in Commonwealth Conference baseball action at Angelica Park.

The Crusaders got a two-run homer from Ben Sawyer as part of a four-run fifth inning in the opener on the way to a 7-3 win, and a two-run double off the bat of Ben Dubas in game two as part of a four-run third inning that led to a 4-2 win.

Senior close Kevin Becker-Menditto threw two innings in each game for a pair of six-out saves moving him to six on the season.  Ryan Sheekey went five innings and gave up three runs on four hits with five strikeouts for the win in the opener.  Lou Marotta threw three innings of relief in game two allowing just two hits with no runs for the win.

Alvernia scored a single run in the third inning of game one on an RBI-single off the bat of senior shortstop Richie Ricciardi.  His sacrifice fly in the fifth put the Crusaders up 2-0 and Sawyer doubled the lead with a line drive home run to right.  Alvernia tacked on a fifth run aided by a Messiah throwing error.

The Falcons--the home team for the doubleheader since it was moved from Messiah to Alvernia to accomodate a snow-drenched field--were held hitless by Sheekey through the first four innings, but broke through for four straight hits in the bottom of the fifth and chased across three runs.

Sheekey settled to get out of the inning and turned the ball over to Becker-Menditto in the sixth.  The Falcons put runners on the corners with two outs, but Becker-Menditto got out of the jam with a fly ball to center then went 1-2-3 in the seventh to lock down his fifth save of the season.

Messiah scored twice on Alvernia starter James Colgan in the first inning of game two on two hits and two walks, but only managed three hits over the final six innings against the combination of Colgan, Marotta, and Becker-Menditto.

The offense went in order in the first two innings for Alvernia then the bottom three drew three straight walks to open the third.  Vinny Case lifted a sacrifice fly to right for the first run of the inning and Dubas chased home a pair with a double to center.  Ricciardi kept it going with a run-scoring single and the Crusaders were up 4-2 after three innings.

Messiah had the potential tying run on with two out in the fifth, but Marotta got a grounder to second from the last man he faced to end the threat and Becker-Menditto threw a pair of 1-2-3 innings for his second save of the day.

Alvernia is in the middle of a potential stretch of nine games in six days and will face The College of New Jersey at home on Wednesday.

Alvernia 7, Messiah 3 (Game One)
Alvernia 4, Messiah 2 (Game Two)