Reading, Pa. (Apr. 7, 2017) - #11/12 Alvernia University (19-2-1, 9-1) opened an important MAC Commonwealth conference series with Widener University (17-6, 8-2) with a 6-3 win Friday afternoon behind eight strong innings from sophomore John Catchmark.

Catchmark scattered eight hits with eight strikeouts and senior Cameron Coons drove in three runs to fuel the offense.

Alvernia opened the scoring in the bottom of the second when Alex Salesky homered to center, but Widener answered back with a solo shot in the top of the third.

Alvernia wasted no time regaining the lead with Coons driving in his first run of the day in the bottom of the third.  Nathan Sides walked and was bunted up to second base with the heart of the order coming to the plate.  He didn't get a great read on a flare to center off the bat of Ben Dubas and held at third to put runners at the corners with one out for Coons, who ripped a single through the left side for a 2-1 Alvernia lead.

In the fifth, Coons hustled to beat out an attempt at an around-the-horn double play from the Pride infield that allowed Mike Cirilli to score from third for a 3-1 lead.

Widener opened the sixth with back-to-back singles and managed a run on a sacrifice fly to center, but Catchmark limited the damage getting a tailor-made double play hit to Sides at short.

Once again the Alvernia offense was quick to respond and once again it was Coons--this time delivering Cirilli from third on an RBI groundout.  The Crusaders tacked on two runs in the eighth on a solo homer from Ian Shaffer and a sac fly from Sides before turning the ball over to Antonio Baglivo who worked around a two-out walk in the top of the ninth to close the game.

Cirilli finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate with a pair of runs and Dubas was 3-for-4.

The series moves to Widener where the two co-preseason favorites in the MAC Commonwealth will play a doubleheader starting at noon.

#11/12 Alvernia 6, Widener 3