Clermont, Florida (Mar. 8, 2016) - Alvernia University (4-4) closed out the 2016 Spring Games with a 9-1 five-inning victory over Misericordia University after falling in a hard-fought 5-4 loss to Lakeland College in the opener.

In the nightcap, the Crusaders wasted no time getting on the board, plating their first run in the bottom of the first. After leading off the inning with a single to right, Psiuk crossed on the RBI single by Taylor Thomas.

Alvernia picked up where it left off in the bottom of the second, scoring four. Back-to-back singles by Mckenzie Miessau and Brianna DePriest and a Taylor Malinish walk loaded the bases with one out. Brianna Fisher then singled to plate Miessau, and Emily Carmella worked a walk to cross DePriest. Thomas once again came up big, ripping a single to center to drive in Malinish and Fisher.

Misericordia knocked in its lone run in the top of fourth on a solo homerun to cut the lead 5-1.

The Crusaders used the run to fuel their fire, notching four runs in the bottom half of the frame. Fisher and Morgan Psiuk started things with a pair of singles, and after a fielder's choice by Carmella, Fisher scored on Thomas's fourth RBI of the game. Amanda Turner followed with two RBI of her own, launching her first dinger of the year to put Alvernia up 8-1. Miessau gave the Crusaders its final run of the contest, ripping a triple to right center before scoring on a throwing error.

Alvernia had multiple hit performances from five different players, including DePriest (3-for-3), Fisher (2-for-2), and Thomas (2-for-2).

Brittanie Wolfe earned the win on the mound, rounding out her Florida campaign 3-0 in the circle.

In game one, Lakeland hit the board first, pulling ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the first.

The Crusaders answered in the top of the second, tying the Muskies 1-1. Turner opened the frame with a double, and then advanced to third on the deep fly ball by Miessau. Turner then utilized a passed ball to even things up.

Lakeland quickly regained the lead, using a triple and a sac fly to reestablish a 2-1 margin. The Muskies continued to build on their advantage in the third, pulling ahead 4-1.

Alvernia refused to settle though, cutting into the deficit in the top of the fifth. Brittanie Wolfe put herself and Taylor Malinish, who reached on a fielder's choice, in scoring position with a double. Bernadette Carey pushed across Malinish with a sac fly to center, and a single by Psiuk scored Wolfe to bring the Crusaders within one at 4-3.

Alvernia continued its rhythm in the top of the sixth, tying the contest 4-4. With two outs, DePriest gave the Crusaders the runner it needed by drawing the walk. Malinish and Wolfe then partnered for a pair of singles, bringing around DePriest.

The Muskies found their own spark in the bottom half of the inning, scratching together the go ahead run to capture the 5-4 win.

The Crusaders head back to Reading and will continue their regular season schedule on Thursday, March 17^th with a double-header at Swarthmore.