Reading, Pa. (Mar. 19, 2016) – Alvernia University (8-4, 2-0) opened its MAC Commonwealth Conference schedule with a pair of wins over Lycoming College (9-4, 0-2) Saturday afternoon in women's softball action at Angelica Park.

In the first contest, Lycoming jumped out a 1-0 lead in the top of the second on a pair of hits.

The lead was short-lived, however, as the Crusaders put together four runs in the bottom half of the frame. After Amanda Turner led off the inning with a walk, Mckenzie Miessau roped a triple to plate Turner and tie the game 1-1. Brianna Fisher then put Alvernia ahead with a one-out single to cross Miessau.

Emily Carmella and Taylor Malinish loaded the bases for the Crusaders with back-to-back walks, and Brianna DePriest extended Alvernia's margin, collecting 2 RBI on a single up the middle to put the Crusaders up 4-1.

Lycoming started the top of the third with a triple and double to cut its deficit to 4-2. Relief pitcher Taylor Fouracre and center fielder Morgan Psiuk halted their momentum as Fouracre induced a shallow pop fly to Psiuk, who snagged the ball just before it hit and doubled off the runner at second.

The Crusaders tacked on an insurance run in the fifth as Miessau collected her second RBI of the game. Aly Shilling and Amanda Turner gave Alvernia two runners by way of a hit by pitch and a walk, and Miessau pushed across Shilling on a base hit to give the Crusaders the 5-2 advantage.

Brittanie Wolfe picked up the start in game one, giving way to Fouracre after two innings of work.

Game two's start mirrored game one, as Lycoming took to the board first with a 1-0 margin after the top of the first. The Warriors held off the Crusaders a little longer, keeping the Alvernia bats at bay until the bottom of the fourth.

Alvernia shifted the tide in the fourth, pulling ahead 3-1. DePriest led off the inning with a single, and a Lycoming error gave the Crusaders runners at first and second. A Turner sacrifice put DePriest and Shilling in scoring position for Miessau, who notched her third RBI of the day to count DePriest. Tied 1-1, Carmella put Alvernia ahead for good with a double off the fence to score Shilling and Miessau.

The Crusaders kept it going in the fifth, racking up three more runs. DePriest got things started again with a one-out triple. Shilling followed DePriest with a double to plate pinch-runner Amanda Riveira, and Turner singled down the line to bring around Shilling. After Miessau punched in another hit, Taylor Thomas knocked a double to score pinch-runner Fisher and put Alvernia up 6-1.

Alvernia was not finished though, added two more runs in the sixth. Shilling set the table for Turner, who roped a full-count long ball to grab the 8-1 advantage.

Fouracre, who earned a pair of wins on the mound, allowed just seven hits in 12 total innings of work across both games.

Key offensive contributors for the Crusaders included Miessau and Turner, who were 4-for-6 and 2-for-4 respectively with three RBI a piece. Fisher batted 1.000 in game one, going 3-for-3, and Carmella was 2-for-5 on the day with two RBI.

Alvernia takes its field again on Tuesday, hosting Richard Stockton University in nonconference action. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.