York, Pa. (May 7, 2017) - Top-seeded Alvernia University (28-12-2) sent 12 batters to the plate and scored seven runs in the bottom of the eighth inning of an 8-5 win over #3 Widener University (26-14) in the final elimination game of the MAC Commonwealth Baseball Championships at PEOPLESBank Stadium.

Widener scored three runs in the top of the seventh to push a 2-1 lead to 5-1, and were just six outs away from facing #2 Arcadia University in the championship round before the Crusader comeback.

Cameron Coons started the rally with a single to center on the first pitch of the inning.  Matt Briner was hit by a pitch, and Ben Dubas drew a walk to load the bases with no one out.

After a pitching change, Franco Esposito lined a single to center and everyone moved up a station with Coons crossing the plate.

Ian Shaffer drew a bases-loaded walk, Dillon Dunne followed with a walk, and when Colin Rieger was hit by a pitch the Crusaders had tied the game scoring four times with only two base hits.

The Pride brought in a second reliever and Mike Cirilli, the eighth batter of the inning, was the first out on a strikeout.  Nathan Sides picked up Cirilli with a bases loaded walk, and a Coons strikeout was the second out.  Briner plated two big insurance runs with a single to center before Dubas flied out to end the inning.

Only a half inning removed from needing four runs to tie it, the Crusaders trotted Antonio Baglivo back out to the mound with a chance to close out the win.

Dunne made a brilliant barehanded play on a bunt for the first out of the inning, but a single and a throwing error put the next two batters on bringing the potential tying run to the plate.  Dunne made his second solid play of the ninth snaring a hard-hit grounder that turned into a 5-4-3 double play to end the game and send the Crusaders into the championship round.

Widener opened the scoring with back-to-back two out hits in the first and Dubas tied the game with his second homer of the postseason down the line in right.  The Pride manufactured a run in the fifth for a 2-1 lead before scoring three in the seventh.

Baglivo went two and a third innings in relief of Thomas Malik to pick up the win.  Cirilli and Briner had two hits apiece.  Alvernia finished with nine base hits and eight walks.

Alvernia needs to win two games against Arcadia to claim the title.  Arcadia just needs one for its first MAC Commonwealth championship.

#1 Alvernia 8, #3 Widener 5