Reading, Pa. (Apr. 5, 2017) - Alvernia University took a pair of wins from Albright College Wednesday afternoon in MAC Commonwealth softball action at Angelica Park.

The Crusaders captured the first game by an 11-0 run rule in five innings before claiming the nightcap, 8-2.

In the opener, Alvernia posted a six-spot in the bottom of the first. Brianna DePriest set the tone with a leadoff single, and quickly came around to score after advancing to third on a Lions miscue off the bat of JoAnnah Lim and crossing on an RBI single by Sarah Bystrycki.  Amanda Turner was then hit by a pitch to load the bases for Brittany Brown, who delivered a 2-run double to center. 

Morgan Psiuk kept the hit streak going, following up Brown's hit with a single that plated Turner and Brown to push Alvernia's lead to 5-0. With one out, DePriest came to the plate again, driving a sac fly to left to bring in Psiuk for the 6-0 margin. 

The Crusaders added another run in the second as Taylor Thomas pushed an RBi single to left field.

Alvernia continued its strong hitting into the third, tacking on three more runs to pull ahead 10-0.

The Crusaders notched their final run in the fourth as DePriest  roped her second sac fly to cross Bernadette Carey, who led off the bottom half of the inning with a triple.

Brittany Brown earned the win in the circle, scattering three hits in five innings of work. 

In game two, Albright took to the board first, notching a run in the top of the second on a Crusader error.

Alvernia responded in the bottom half, taking a 3-1 lead. Psiuk opened the frame with a triple and knotted the game at 1 on a fielder's choice off the bat of Emily Carmella. Carey extended the inning with a single, and DePriest gave the Crusaders the only other runs it would need on a 2-run blast for her fourth homer of the season.

Albright cut its deficit to one in the third, but Alvernia put up a pair of runs in the fourth to extend its margin 5-2. 

The Crusaders put together more offense in the fifth, using a walk and a Lions error to pull ahead 6-2. Alvernia continued to capitalize on the extended inning as Carey and DePriest partnered for back-to-back hits to claim an 8-2 advantage.

Riley Shields went the distance on the mound, allowing three hits with six strikeouts in seven innings.

Leading the way offensively for the Crusaders were Brianna DePriest (5-for-6, 6 RBI) and Sarah Bystrycki (5-for-7, 4 RBI). Bernadette Carey was 3-for-3 with a pair of RBI, while Turner and Psiuk both hit .500 on the day.

Alvernia will have a quick turn around, taking to its home field again tomorrow as it hosts Eastern University at 3:00 pm.