Reading, Pa. (Apr. 7, 2017) - Alvernia University notched 21 hits on the day to take a pair of run-rule wins over Eastern University Friday afternoon in non-conference softball action at Angelica Park.

The Crusaders took game one 12-4 and game two 11-3.

In the opener, Alvernia put runs on the board every inning.

After falling behind 2-0 after the top of the first, the Crusaders posted a 4-spot in the bottom half of the frame. DePriest gave Alvernia its first runner of the day with a leadoff double, and cut the deficit in half on a sac fly by Sarah Bystrycki.

Amanda Turner and Brittany Brown then reached on a fielder's choice and a walk to bring up Morgan Psiuk, who counted Turner with a single to knot the game at 2.

Taylor Thomas then delivered a two-run single to put Alvernia ahead 4-2.

Eastern responded in the top of the second, coming within one, 4-3.

The Crusaders continued to manufacture runs in the second, starting the inning with a double by Mckenzie Miessau. JoAnnah Lim followed Miessau with a double of her own to bring around pinch-runner Bernadette Carey, and took two bases on a set of wild pitches to extend Alvernia's margin 6-3.

Lim and Bystrycki each picked up another RBI in the third, scoring Emily Carmella and DePriest who both reached by walk to increase the lead 8-3.

Thomas and Carmella pushed the advantage to 10-3 in the fourth, both sacrificing themselves to score runs.

Eastern pushed across one more run in the fifth in hopes of extending the game, but Carmella came up big in the bottom half, driving a two-out double to plate Brianna Fisher and Samantha Petry for the 12-4 mercy rule win.

Riley Shields gathered the win on the mound, scattering four hits with a strikeout.

In the nightcap, Alvernia took to the board first in the bottom of the second. Carmella led things off with a solo shot to left for the 1-0 go ahead. Psiuk gave the Crusaders the next runner it needed with a single, and crossed for the 2-0 lead on a sacrifice by Carey.

Turner put Alvernia up 4-0 in the third, collecting a duo of RBIs on a single to left center.

The Crusaders put together their biggest inning in the bottom of the fourth, plating five for the 9-0 advantage. Across the inning, the Crusaders posted plenty of pairs, including back-to-back singles by Carey and Taylor Malinish, back-to-back doubles by DePriest and Lim, and back-to-back walks by Turner and Carmella.

Eastern kept the run-rule at bay for half an inning, putting together three runs to cut its deficit, 9-3.

Alvernia had other plans though as Malinish, Lim and Alex Maher used smart baserunning and back-to-back singles to regain the 8-run margin, 11-3.

Brittany Brown captured the win in the circle, allowing just five hits with two strikeouts.

Leading the way offensively for the Crusaders were Sarah Bystrycki, Morgan Psiuk and Brianna DePriest, who were all 3-for-4 on the day. Bystrycki notched two triples with a pair of RBI, while Psiuk and DePriest combined for the three RBI.

The Crusaders return to action on Tuesday, hosting Haverford College at 3:30 pm.