(Clermont, Fl) Mar. 3, 2015 – Alvernia University (2-2) finished its second day of games at the National Training Center with a split, defeating the College of Saint Benedict 7-5 after dropping game one to #20 Augustana College 11-5.

In game two, Saint Benedict put a run on the board in the first to take the early advantage. The Crusaders settled in early though, posting three of their own in the bottom of the second. With two on, Taylor Malinish roped an RBI single down the right field line to plate Aly Shilling. Brianna Kuhn then beat out an infield single to plate Makenzie Miessau for the 2-1 advantage. Kuhn would then advance to second a passed ball and come around to score to a single by Bernadette Carey for the 3-1 lead.

Saint Benedict  pushed across a run to open the third inning, but Alvernia responded with a run of its own in the bottom half. Felicia McKenna, who started the inning with a base hit, led the Crusaders to the 4-2 lead as Shilling collected the RBI on a fielder's choice ground ball to short.

Alvernia would post three more runs in the fifth. McKenna gave Alvernia its first base runner of the inning with a walk and she moved up to second on a single by Shannon Grim. Both runners would cross the plate on the next batter as Amanda Turner knocked a double to left center. Turner's pinch runner, Stephanie Mancuso, would be the third run for the Crusaders off the bat of Miessau on a RBI ground out to second for a 7-2 advantage.

Saint Benedict started a comeback charge in the sixth, plating three runs on five hits. The Blazers threated to pick up more runs with a two out single, but McKenna prevented that as she threw an outfield dart from center to nail the runner at home and keep the Crusaders with the 7-5 margin.

The Blazers attempted one final surge in the top of the seventh, but after back-to-back hits, freshman pitcher Taylor Fouracre settled in for the final outs to seal the win.
Fouracre earned the win for the Crusaders, collecting her first collegiate start and win in the contest.

In game one, Augustana pulled ahead early, breaking open the second inning with a string of hits that led to an 8-0 start. Alvernia chipped away at the lead, plating one in the third as Brianna DePriest singled to left field for cross Kuhn. After holding Augustana in the bottom half of the inning, the Crusaders continued their run scoring, notching four runs in the fourth. After Grim started the inning with a  walk, Turner double to bring her across. Back-to-Back walks would load the bases for the Crusaders, and two runs would score as Stephanie Mancuso and Shannon Grodzicki both beat out infield play attempts at the plate. DePriest would then pick up her second RBI of the day, sending a fly ball to deep center to score Malinish and cut Augustana's lead 8-5.

Alvernia was unable to keep its offense alive, falling short of the comeback. Augustana would collect three more runs in the sixth to lock in the win.

The Crusaders return to play on Wednesday, taking on Misericordia and Finlandia at Hancock Park. Game times are set for 9:00 am and 11:00 am.