Philadelphia, Pa. (Apr. 30, 2016) - Alvernia University (27-13, 17-4) split a doubleheader at Arcadia University (22-14-1, 13-8) to close the regular season and will enter the MAC Commonwealth Baseball Championships as the top seed next Thursday at PEOPLESBank Park in York.

The Crusaders scored twice in the seventh inning in game one and had the potential game-tying run stranded at third base in a 3-2 loss then scored four runs in the eighth inning of game two for a 9-5 win.

Zack Landy threw an inning and a third in relief to pick up the win.

Alvernia will face Stevenson University at 4:00 p.m. in Thursday's opener with #2 Widener squaring off with #3 Messiah in the nightcap at 7:00.  The double elimination tournament will continue Friday and Saturday.

Alvernia took 2-of-3 games in the season series from Stevenson and Widener, and swept Messiah.  The Crusaders' other two league losses came at Lebanon Valley and Saturday at Arcadia.

Arcadia scored a single run in the bottom of the first inning in game one and Alvernia freshman Thomas Malik and Arcadia's Zach Manasek were locked in a pitchers' duel with the Knights leading 1-0 through five innings.  The hosts tacked on two runs in the bottom of the sixth and entered the seventh with a 3-0 lead.

Ian Shaffer singled in a run and put runners at first and third in one out for the Crusaders.  A wild pitch allowed Ben Dubas to score from third and sent Shaffer all the way around to third with still one out.  James Bertolotti lined out to Arcadia first baseman Michael Nessel on a diving play and pinch hitter Ryan Keen grounded out to short to end the game.

Arcadia scored the first run in another pitchers' duel in game two doubling in a run in the bottom of the fourth inning.  The Crusaders answered right back when Chris Burns singled in a run in the top of the fifth and took the lead on an RBI-single from Joe Iacobellis and a triple from Nathan Sides in the top of the sixth.

Arcadia tied the score at 3-3 with two runs in the home half of the sixth, but Alvernia was able to keep the streak going with two runs in the top of the seventh.  Dubas singled to drive in Burns and moved up to third on a throwing error.  Shaffer beat out a bunt that scored Dubas and Alvernia held a 5-3 lead going to the bottom of the seventh.

Arcadia got a pair of two-out, run-scoring hits to tie the game at 5-5, and Bertolotti cut down a runner trying to steal third to end the seventh.

Alvernia sent nine batters to the plate and scored four runs in the top of the eighth on three base hits and a pair of Arcadia errors.  Landy worked around a two-out single in the bottom of the eighth to close the game and earn the win.

Arcadia 3, Alvernia 2 (Game One)
Alvernia 9, Arcadia 5 (8) (Game Two)