Reading, Pa. (Apr. 14, 2016) - Alvernia University (10-16, 3-9) took game one of its MAC Commonwealth softball double header with a 7-6 victory over Stevenson University (11-17, 5-5) before falling 9-1 in the nightcap Thursday afternoon at Angelica Park.
In the opener, the Crusader popped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second.
Aly Shilling started the momentum with a leadoff walk, and advanced to second on the fielders choice off the bat of
Morgan Petry.
Brittanie Wolfe then drove a two-out RBI single up the middle to plate Shilling. Wolfe then made the most of a Mustang error off the bat of
Amanda Turner, collecting the second run of the inning.
Stevenson knotted the game in the top of the third, but the Crusaders reestablished their lead in the bottom of the fourth.
Taylor Thomas opened the frame with a single, and moved 60 feet on a Stevenson error to give Alvernia a pair of runners.
Taylor Fouracre delivered a right side fielder's choice to advance the duo to second and third before
Morgan Psiuk was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
The Crusaders again took advantage of a Mustang error, pulling ahead 4-2.
Mckenzie Miessau capitalized on the extended inning, driving a double to center to increase the margin 6-2.
Alvernia added the game winning run in the bottom of the sixth.
Amanda Turner gave Alvernia a baserunner with a single, her 100th career hit as a Crusader, to start the inning, and pinch runner
Bernadette Carey advanced to second on another Fouracre fielder's choice. Psiuk counted Carey on an RBI single up the middle for the 7-2 lead.
Stevenson put together a run in the top of the seventh, stringing together six htis to come within one.
Brittany Brown entered in relief for Wolfe, getting the Crusaders out of a first and third jam to seal the win.
In the nightcap, the Crusaders took to the board first again, plating one in the bottom of the first. After Carmella delivered a one-out single, Miessau and Shilling juiced the bases on a walk and hit by pitch. Thomas knocked a single to right to bring in Carmella for the Crusaders lone run of the contest.
Stevenson brought home the equalizer in the top of the third. After a pair of scoreless innings, the Mustangs found their bats again, plating five runs in the fifth and three runs in the sixth to take the 9-1 advantage.
The Crusaders return to the field on Tuesday, traveling to Eastern for their first of a three-game road stint. Game one is set for a 3:00 start.
