Reading, Pa. (Mar. 29, 2015) – Alvernia University (7-5, 1-1) collected a tenth inning 8-6 victory over Lycoming College (9-5, 1-1) in game one before falling 6-3 in game two in Commonwealth Conference softball action on Sunday at Lycoming.

The Crusaders ended on the upper half of an exciting game one, picking up two runs in the tenth for the win. Tied 6-6 going into the top half of the inning, the Crusaders put McKenzie Miessau on second base due to the International Tiebreaker Rule. After Brianna Kuhn moved Miessau to third, Stephanie Mancuso hit a two run blast to left field to put Alvernia ahead.

Taylor Fouracre then took the mound for the bottom half of the inning, shutting down the Warriors in three at bats.

Alvernia took the early lead in the game, going ahead 1-0 in the first. With Taylor Thomas on second, Shannon Grim hit a one-out single up the middle to plate Thomas.

Lycoming answered the Crusaders in the bottom half of the inning, and took the 2-1 lead in the second on back to back hits.

The Crusaders kept their offense going though, posting four runs of their own in the third. Aly Shilling capitalized on a walk and a Warrior error, ripping a double to center to plate Grim and Amanda Turner to recapture the lead. Miessau followed Shilling with an RBI single to right, and advanced to second on a fielder's choice on a Kuhn hit to short. With two outs, Brianna DePriest doubled to left, crossing Miessau for the 5-2 advantage.

Alvernia would extend its lead to 6-2 on a solo shot by Shilling in the fifth.

Lycoming chipped away at the Crusader lead, tacking on two runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut the deficit 6-4. The Warriors added two more in the seventh and threated to win the game on a base knock, but Alvernia was able to stop the winning run from scoring at the plate.

Brianna Fisher had the start for the Crusaders in the circle, with Fouracre entered in the seventh for the win.

In game two, Alvernia fell behind early as the Warriors put together a string of hits after an inning-extending error in the second for the 3-0 lead. The Crusaders chipped away at Lycoming in the third, as Turner homered to left to plate herself and Mancuso, who reached on a walk, and come within one at 3-2.

Lycoming kept pushing forward, extending its lead to 6-2 over the next three innings.

The Crusaders generated its biggest offensive threat in the top of the sixth, loading the bases with no outs. Alvernia was able to push across one run on a single by Miessau, but were unable to capitalize any further.

Game two was called in the sixth inning due to darkness.

Alvernia continues conference play on Monday, hosting Widener University in its home opener. First pitch is set for 3:00.