Annville, Pa. (Mar. 26, 2017) - Alvernia University notched a run per game a pair of losses against Lebanon Valley College Sunday afternoon in MAC Commonwealth softball action.  The Dutchmen took game one, 3-1, and game two, 2-1.

In the opener, the Dutchmen plated all three of their runs in the first inning.

The Crusaders got on the board in the fifth as Riley Shields helped herself, reaching on an error by LVC's shortstop. Morgan Psiuk gave Alvernia its second runner of the inning on another Dutchmen miscue, and the duo moved into scoring position on the sacrifice by JoAnnah Lim. Shields then crossed a batter later as Alex Maher delivered an RBI groundout. 

Despite Shields notching Alvernia's lone hit of the contest with a double in the third, the Crusaders had various opportunities to score, leaving runners on in five of seven innings.

In the nightcap, LVC scored first again, pushing across a run in the third and the fourth.

Trailing 2-0 entering the top of the fifth, Alvernia cut its deficit in half. With two outs, Bernadette Carey reached on an LVC error and swiped second to put herself in scoring position for Lim, who roped a single to right to plate Carey. Lim advanced to third on the throw attempt at Carey, but the Crusaders were unable to count her.

Alvernia threatened to break the game open in the sixth, loading the bases with one out, but LVC executed a double-play to take off the pressure.

The Crusaders hit the road again on Tuesday, taking a break from their conference schedule to face in-town rival Penn State Berks. First pitch of the double-header is set for 3:00 pm.