Glenside, Pa. (Apr. 28, 2017) - Thomas Malik went five innings, and Nathan Sides and Matt Briner ripped four hits apiece to lead #24 Alvernia University (25-10-2, 14-5) to a 9-4 win over Arcadia University (27-10, 13-6) Friday afternoon in MAC Commonwealth baseball action at Arcadia.

The top two teams in the league met in the final series of the season with the top seed in the postseason tournament on the line.  The winner earns the #1 seed while the loser could fall as far as fourth place and a first round rematch.  The two teams finish the series Saturday at Angelica Park with a doubleheader starting at noon.

Alvernia had three straight 2-run innings starting in the second, added a pair in the seventh and one more in the ninth.

Dillon Dunne singled in a run on an 0-2 count to get the scoring started, and the Crusaders pushed across a second in the second on a throwing error by the Arcadia catcher.

In the third, Sides and Briner both singled in a run, and in the fourth, Sides drove in two more on a 2-out single through the left side.

Arcadia scored a run in the second and two more in the fourth and trailed 6-3 after four.

Ben Dubas launched a solo homer in the seventh and the Crusaders scored on an Arcadia fielding error.

Malik allowed three runs on five hits.  Nicholas Marotta went two and two-thirds innings and allowed a run without a hit, and Antonio Baglivo finished off the final inning and a third.

Sides finished with a team-high four RBIs.

Alvernia, Arcadia, and Lebanon Valley have all secured a berth in the MAC Commonwealth Championships.  Hood stayed alive for the final spot with a win over Widener on Friday and needs two more Saturday or Widener will be the final team in the postseason.

The Championships are double-eliminiation starting next Thursday at PEOPLES Bank Stadium in York.

#24 Alvernia 9, Arcadia 4