Grantham, Pa. (April 5, 2018) - Alvernia University (16-6, 8-1) took took a 5-0 lead over the first three innings and tacked on five more in the top of the sixth to take an 11-1 victory over Messiah College (4-10, 1-6) and sweep the MAC Commonwealth series on Thursday afternoon at Messiah.

The Golden Wolves got on the board in the top of the first, with Dillon Dunne reaching on a single to third and then coming around to score later in the inning on a Messiah error.

Colin Rieger singled through the left side to score Ian Shaffer in the top of the second to give Alvernia a 2-0 lead.

The Golden Wolves added three more to their lead in the top of the third. Franco Esposito drove in the first run of the inning with a single up the middle to score Nathan Sides. Shaffer then hit a sacrifice fly to right field to bring in Ben Dubas, and Alex Salesky finished off the inning with a single to right to bring Esposito home.

Alvernia doubled its lead in the top of the sixth with a huge five run inning. The Falcons retired the first two batters of the inning, but Alvernia fought to keep the inning alive. Dunne reached on a single and advanced to third in Mike Cirilli's at-bat. Sides and Matt Briner each had a single in the following to at-bats to drive in Dunne and Cirilli. Sides then advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a second wild pitch by Messiah. Esposito capped off the inning, driving in the final two runs with a single to left.

The Falcons loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but Sean Esch ended the threat with a strikeout.

The Golden Wolves added one more in the top of the 8th, with Zach Zellers coming in to pinch hit and knocking a single up the middle to score Cirilli and put Alvernia up 11-1.

Esch went seven innings and struck out six to pick up his second win of the season. Esposito led Alvernia's offense with two hits and two RBIs.

The Golden Wolves continue their conference schedule with a doubleheader at Arcadia on Friday afternoon.

Alvernia 11, Messiah 1