York, Pa. (May 6, 2017) – Second-seeded Arcadia University (31-11) used a 5-run first inning to get out to a fast start in an 8-4 win over #1 Alvernia University (27-12-2) Saturday evening in the winners bracket final of the MAC Commonwealth Baseball Championships at PEOPLESBank Park.
 
Alvernia moves into the losers bracket final against #3 Widener on Sunday at noon while Arcadia advances to the Championship round against the winner of the Alvernia-Widener game later on Sunday.
 
Arcadia put the leadoff man on in the top of the first and he moved to third on a throwing error and a passed ball before Justin Chasmer delivered the first run with a single through the right side.
 
The lead grew to 3-0 when Nick Cardace homered to left center, and two batters later the Knights had a 5-0 lead when Jordan Draude added a 2-run shot of his own.
 
Alvernia starter Dillon Dunne recovered to get the final two outs of the inning, and settled in allowing just one more run over the next five innings.
 
The Crusaders' offense went to work on the deficit right away scoring three times in the bottom of the first.  Nathan Sides slapped a 2-run double to right center and Ben Dubas came up clutch with a 2-out, bloop single to left to score Sides.
 
Alvernia closed the game to 5-4 in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly from Mike Cirilli, but Arcadia got it right back when Phil Pierfy walked, stole second, and scored on a Draude single in the third.
 
Alvernia grounded into double plays in both the third and the fourth, and had a golden opportunity in the fifth when Cirilli singled to lead off the inning and Sides put runners at second and third with no one out when he reached—and advanced—on a throwing error.
 
Arcadia starter Jeremy Sabathne escaped the threat with back-to-back strikeouts and a groundout.
 
The Knights then put the first two on in the sixth, but couldn't move them up and Dunne retired three straight batters to close the inning.
 
Draude drew a one-out walk in the top of the seventh and scored on a sac fly to make it 7-4, and the Knights added an eighth run on a bases loaded hit by pitch.
 
Alvernia went in order in the eighth and had a man on in the ninth but couldn't score.
 
Colin Rieger and Ethan Francis had two hits apiece for the Crusaders.
 
#2 Arcadia 8, #1 Alvernia 4