Ashland, Va. (Feb. 25, 2017) - Sophomore John Catchmark allowed one run over five innings and the offense scored nine straight runs as Alvernia University (1-0) defeated SUNY-New Paltz (1-1) Saturday morning by a 12-4 final in non-conference baseball action at Randolph-Macon.

Alvernia and Macon got two innings into a second game on Saturday before it was rained out.

The New Paltz leadoff batter opened the game with a single to left then stole second and third before scoring on a single.  The Hawks put runners on first and second with no one out, but Catchmark got a 6-3 double play then ended the inning with a strikeout.  He went four more innings allowing five more base runners, but left in good position with the offense putting seven runs on the board over the first five innings.

Alvernia loaded the bases with no one out in the bottom of the first.  Nathan Sides and Matt Briner both singled then Ethan Francis was hit by a pitch.  Cam Coons followed with an RBI groundout and Ben Dubas hit a sacrifice fly to right.

Alvernia scored three unearned runs in the second and another in the fourth and the fifth for a 7-1 lead.  Dillon Dunne drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the seventh and Francis hit the Crusaders' first home run of the season--a solo shot to right--for a 9-1 lead.

Michael Griffin and Zack Landy both threw a scoreless frame in the sixth and seventh.  New Paltz scored its second run of the game on a bases loaded double play in the eighth.

Coons finished off a four-RBI game with a three-run homer to center in the eighth, and New Paltz scored twice in the ninth.

Alvernia is off until Sunday, March 5, when it opens an eight-game spring break trip against Elms College in Ft. Myers, Florida.

Alvernia 12, New Paltz 4