Reading, Pa. (Apr. 2, 2016) - Alvernia University (13-11, 7-2) scored three times in the bottom of the seventh inning of game two for a 4-3 win and a doubleheader sweep of Widener University (12-9, 6-3) Saturday afternoon in MAC Commonwealth baseball action at Angelica Park.

Alvernia won the opener 7-1 behind five innings from freshman starter Tom Malik to even up the season series at a game apiece then earned an important tie-breaker advantage over the Pride with the win in game two.

Widener held a 3-1 lead through the first six innings and put runners at second and third with one out in the top of the seventh, but Alvernia freshman John Catchmark notched back-to-back strikeouts to end the threat and keep the Crusaders within striking distance.

Matt Briner reached on a fielding error by the Widener second baseman to open the bottom of the ninth and Nathan Sides singled to deep short to put two runners on.  Mike Cunningham then worked a walk to load the bases with no one out.  Widener turned the ball over to Michael Elfreth to try to close it out.

Franco Esposito worked the count full against Elfreth then riped a single to left to plate pinch-runner Connor Boyle.  Designated hitter Jake Rosenberg fell behind 0-2 before hitting a single to right to drive in the tying run.  Elfreth got a strikeout of Ben Dubas and Cameron Coons hit a grounder to third that forced out Cunningham at home.  Ian Shaffer, a transfer from Widener, drew a full-count then watched a fastball stay high for the walk-off walk.

Esposito and Sides both had two hits apiece for the Crusaders who drew nine walks in the game.

In the opener, Widener scored the first run of the game in the first against freshman starter Thomas Malik.  Senior catcher James Bertolotti singled in a run in the second to tie the game then singled and scored as part of the 3-run fourth that put Alvernia up 5-1.  The Crusaders added two more runs in the sixth to put the game out of reach.

Freshman Zack Landy threw consecutive 1-2-3 innings with three strikeouts to finish the game.  Bertolotti was 3-for-3 in game two with two runs and two RBIs.  Coons was 2-for-2 with a run scored and Cunningham drove in three.

The Crusaders continue the schedule at Haverford on Wednesday.

Alvernia 7, Widener 1 (Game One)
Alvernia 4, Widener 3 (Game Two)