Chester, Pa. (Apr. 6, 2016) - Alvernia University (9-13, 2-6) was a run short in a pair of games against Widener University (15-3, 6-2), falling 2-1 and 7-6 Wednesday evening in MAC Commonwealth action at Widener.

In the opener, the Pride claimed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second.

The Crusaders knotted things in the top of the fourth as Aly Shilling opened the frame with a walk. After Morgan Petry moved Shilling 60 feet, Amanda Turner delivered a double off the fence to plate Alvernia's lone run.

Widener answered in the bottom half of the inning, pushing across the game winning run after starting with a leadoff double.

The Crusaders put a runner in scoring position in the sixth, but were unable to convert the run.

In the nightcap, Alvernia took to the board first, scoring two in the second. Turner and Brittany Brown gave the Crusades a pair of runners with back-to-back walks, and Taylor Malinish ripped a 2-run triple to give Alvernia the 2-0 advantage.

Widener chipped at the lead in the bottom half of the inning, cutting the deficit 2-1.

Alvernia kept its momentum into the third, posting two more runs. Mckenzie Miessau and Shilling each roped a single before Petry drove them both in on a double to the gap.

The Pride continued to work at the Crusaders margin though, shortening the lead to 4-3 in the bottom of the third with a 2-run homerun.

Alvernia pushed across its fifth run in the fifth, this time off the bat of Brown. Miessau again started the inning with a single, and with two outs scored on a hard hit to second by Brown.

Widener found more momentum in the fifth as well, putting together a string of hits to collect three runs and take its first lead of the game at 6-5.

The Crusaders did not let the lead sit for long though, tying the game at 6 in the sixth inning. Malinish stayed hot at the plate, opening the inning with a single. Brianna DePriest moved her into scoring position, and Mckenzie Miessau forces a Pride error to count Malinish.

The Pride capitalized in extra innings though, using a pair of walks and a pair of hits in the bottom of the eighth to capture the win.

The Crusaders saw pitching performances from Brittanie Wolfe, Taylor Fouracre and Brittany Brown.

In game one, Brittanie Wolfe scattered four hits in seven innings of work.

The Crusaders take to their home field again on Saturday for their Cancer Awareness game against Hood College. The MAC Commonwealth Conference matchup is set for a 1:00 first pitch.