Annville, Pa. (Mar. 31, 2016) - Alvernia University (9-11, 2-4) fell short against Lebanon Valley College (11-5, 5-1), dropping game one 4-0 before falling in the nightcap 10-8 in MAC Commonwealth softball action Thursday afternoon at Lebanon Valley.

In the opener, the Dutchmen posted an early 2-0 margin in the bottom of the first. The Crusaders put a runner on in each of the first three innings, but were unable to manufacture a run. 

Lebanon Valley extended its lead in the fourth and fifth innings, posting a run in each frame to pull ahead 4-0. Alvernia put together its best scoring threat in the top of the sixth as Taylor Malinish and Brianna DePriest worked back-to-back walks to start the inning. However, the Crusaders were unable to convert. 

In the nightcap, Lebanon Valley opened with an early lead again, pulling ahead 3-0.

Alvernia squared things up in the third, striking a two out rally. Aly Shilling gave the Crusaders a runner on with a single to left, and Alvernia picked up a second runner as Amanda Turner wore a pitch. Mckenzie Miessau then delivered a key single, plating Shilling. With both runners advancing on the throw, Turner was able to capitalize on a Dutchmen wild pitch to bring the Crusaders within one. With Miessau on third, Morgan Petry drove a clutch RBI single to knot the game 3-3.

The Crusaders kept their momentum in the fourth, putting up three additional runs. Brianna Fisher opened with a triple to right and quickly came around to score on the RBI by Brianna DePriest. Morgan Psiuk advanced DePriest to second on a single to right, and Shilling brought around DePriest on her third hit of the game. Turner then gave Alvernia the 6-3 margin with a sacrific fly to left.

Alvernia increased the lead to 7-3 in the fifth as Malinish ripped a single to score pinch runner Bernadette Carey, who replaced Petry after she opened the inning with a single. 

LVC chipped away at Alvernia lead in the bottom half of the frame, coming within one at 7-6.

The Crusaders responded with another run in the top of the sixth as Petry drove in Shilling on a double to left center to hold an 8-6 advantage.

The Dutchmen managed to post four runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 10-8 lead. 

Alvernia put runners on in the top of the seventh, but could not push them across.

Key offensive players for the Crusaders were Aly Shilling and Morgan Petry, who both hit 1.000 in game two. Shilling was 5-for-5 with an RBI while Petry was 3-for-3 with 2 RBI. Shilling's standout performance moved her up in the ranks in career hits as a Crusader, placing her fifth with 163.

Alvernia returns to play on Saturday, traveling to Widener for MAC Commonwealth action starting at 1:00.