Wincester, Va. (Feb. 24, 2019) - Alvernia University (1-1) opened up its 2019 season with a split series against Shenandoah University (2-3) on a cold and windy afternoon at Shenandoah's Henkel-Harris field.

In game one of the afternoon, Alvernia gave up eight runs in the bottom of the third en route to a 9-1 loss in five innings to the Hornets.

Junior JoAnnah Lim drove in senior Morgan Psiuk in the top of the fourth with a single on the right field line for Alvernia's lone run of game one.

Junior Riley Shields picked up the loss in two and a third innings of action.

In game two of the afternoon, the Golden Wolves got off to an early 1-0 lead with a Sarah Bystrycki double to left that scored Psiuk.

The Hornets took the lead in their half of the first with a two-run double to take the 2-1 lead.

Alvernia answered and tied it back up at 2-2 with a bases loaded walk by Psiuk to score senior Emily Carmella in the top of the second.

In the top of the third, Lim drove in Bystrycki with an infield single to give the Golden Wolves the 3-2 advantage.

The Hornets had two big back-to-back innings, scoring two in the bottom of the third and four in the bottom of the fourth.

The Golden Wolves chipped away in the bottom of the fifth and got two back on a two-run single by Alyssa Acker to cut Shenandoah's lead to 8-5.

Alvernia's offense came alive with a six run top of the seventh to take the 11-8 lead. Jocelyn Flores got things started with a single to center to drive in Lim, who reached on a walk to lead off the inning, to make it 8-6 in favor of the Hornets. In the next at-bat, Acker hit a bullet of a homerun over the left field fence to tie it up at 8-8.

The Golden Wolves kept it going with Hope Robinson reaching on a walk, and advancing to second on a single by Sarah Reinert. Psiuk hit a double in the next at-bat to score Robinson to give Alvernia the 9-8 advantage. Kerstin Koenig grounded out on a single to second, scoring Reinert, to make it 10-8 Alvernia. Bystrycki capped of the six run inning by reaching on an error and driving in Psiuk.

With Shields making a relief appearance in the bottom of the seventh, the Hornets looked to threaten in the bottom of the seventh, putting two runners on and bringing the tying run to the plate with one out. Alvernia got out of the jam, retiring the lead runner on a play at third and striking out the final batter of the game.

Freshman Ally Decker got her first career win with two and two-thirds innings of relief. Decker struck out one and allowed three hits and a run. Shields earned the save with her appearance in the bottom of the seventh.

Psiuk led Alvernia's offensive efforts in game two with four hits, and Acker finished game two with four RBIs.

Alvernia's comeback win in game two was the first of Head Coach Wes Landrum's Alvernia career.

The Golden Wolves have the week off and will return to the field on Sunday, March 3rd as they take on Monmouth College to kick off their spring break in Florida.

Game One: Shenandoah 9 Alvernia 1 (5)
Game Two: Alvernia 11 Shenandoah 8