Reading, Pa. (May 10, 2015) - The top five batters in the lineup collected nine hits and drove in six runs as Alvernia University (32-12), currently ranked third in the Mid-Atlantic region, bettered regional #7 Franklin & Marshall (28-13) 7-1 Sunday afternoon in non-conference baseball action at Angelica Park.

Alvernia is the automatic qualifier for the Commonwealth Conference into the NCAA Baseball Regional and will learn its location and opponent for the regional on Monday morning.  F&M finished as the runner-up in the Centennial Conference and will hope for an at-large bid into the NCAAs.

Alvernia opened Sunday's game with a 3-run first and got great pitching from six different players to keep the Diplomats at bay.  Chris Burns drove in the first run of the game with a single through the left side and Zach Nadolny ripped a double to right center chasing home two more.

Antonio Baglivo started the game for the Crusaders and gave up just three hits in three innings.  He was awarded the win with the Crusaders following a prescribed rotation plan on the mound.  Ryan Sheekey, Matt Backlund, Matt Osgoodby, and Kevin Becker-Menditto all got an inning of work and Loius Marotta got two innings in the middle of the game and allowed one run, unearned in the seventh.

The Alvernia offense scored a run in the fourth, fifth, and two more in the sixth.  Burns led the hit parade going 3-for-5 with two RBIs.  Nadolny finished 2-for-5 with three RBIs.

The Crusaders return to action Wednesday at the NCAA Regional with an opponent to be announced.

Alvernia 7, F&M 1