Galloway, NJ (Mar. 21, 2017) - Alvernia University (7-3) converted a rally-ending triple play to capture a 2-1 victory over Stockton University (7-5) in game one of a non-conference softball doubleheader Tuesday afternoon.
Trailing 2-0 entering the bottom of the third, Stockton pushed across a run and threatened to shift the game in its favor with runners on second and third and no outs. But the Crusaders had other plans, twirling a triple play to get out of the inning.
Freshman pitcher
Riley Shields started the rare play, fielding a hard comeback grounder, checking the runner, and making a quick throw to first. Sophomore
Morgan Petry was alert on the bag, quickly relaying the throw to catcher Ana Fouracre, who swiped the tag on Stockton's Carli Shaw who tried to take home.
Looking for the trail runner, Fouracre caught Osprey Danielle Lugo trying to advance to third and tossed a bullet to
Brianna DePriest, who rung up Lugo for the final out.
The Crusaders then allowed just two Osprey on base over the final four frames.
Alvernia notched its pair of runs over the first two innings. The Crusaders opened the contest with back-to-back singles from
JoAnnah Lim and DePriest, with the duo moving into scoring position on the sacrifice by Petry.
Emily Carmella then roped a single to short to cross Lim for the 1-0 advantage.
Alvernia tacked on the game winner in the second as
Sarah Bystrycki reached on a leadoff single and moved up a bag courtesy of Fouracre. She came around to score a batter later as the Osprey made an error off the bat of
Morgan Psiuk.
Shields collected the win in the circle, scattering four hits and two walks in a complete game effort.
The Crusaders fell 5-1 in the nightcap, plating their lone run in the fifth as
Taylor Malinish scored on an RBI single by Petry.
Alvernia had a pair of bases-loaded opportunities in the sixth and seventh, but was unable to convert a run.
The Crusaders out-hit the Osprey in game two, 11-9.
Lim paced Alvernia at the plate, going 4-for-8 on the day. Carmella and Bystrycki also had a strong offensive outings, both hitting 3-for-7.
Alvernia returns to competition on Thursday, traveling to Immaculata for a non-conference double-header at 3:00 pm.
