Reading, Pa. (Mar. 18, 2016) -
Matt Alpaugh singled to right with two out in the 10th to drive home
Chris Burns from second base and give Alvernia University (7-6, 1-0) a 5-4 win over Stevenson University (7-9, 0-1) Friday afternoon in MAC Commonwealth baseball action at Angelica Park.
Burns drew a one-out walk and moved up to second base on a wild pitch.Â
Cameron Coons struck out for the second out of the inning and the Mustangs chose to intentionally walk
Ben Dubas with Alpaugh--a .143 hitter early in the season--waiting on deck. Alpaugh worked a 2-1 count then lifted a fly ball to shallow right that fell in front of the Stevenson rightfielder. Burns was off on contact and able to dive in with a head first slide into the plate. The bench cleared to swarm Alpaugh beyond first base.
Alvernia junior
Evan Young earned the win in relief. Young entered in the top of the ninth with the Crusaders up 3-2. He was ahead 0-2 on the first batter, but plunked him in the back to put the tying run on. The Mustangs followed with a single then used a pair of Alvernia errors to plate the tying and go-ahead runs.
John Catchmark worked a full count to lead off the bottom of the ninth for the Crusaders then singled in the hole between third and short.Â
Shakore Bragg-Taylor pinch ran for Catchman and moved up on a perfect sacrifice bunt by
James Bertolotti. Stevenson closer Trevor Fitzsimmons was able to get Alvernia pinch hitter
Jake Rosenberg on a high fastball for the second out of the inning before
Ian Shaffer ripped a 1-1 pitch to left field that plated Bragg-Taylor easily.
Burns, Dubas, Catchmark, and
Mike Cunningham had two hits apiece for the Crusaders. Cunningham put the Crusaders on the board with a 2-run double in the second and ripped a triple off the fence in center later in the game.
Junior
Ryan Sheekey started and went seven innings allowing two runs--one earned--on six hits with seven strikeouts.
Alvernia and Stevenson continue the 3-game set with a doubleheader Saturday in Owings Mill, Md.
Alvernia 5, Stevenson 4 (10)
