Reading, Pa. (Mar. 30, 2019) - Alvernia University (15-8-1, 6-0) swept Messiah College (9-13, 2-4), including a game two come from behind win, in MAC Commonwealth softball action on Saturday at Alvernia.

In game one of the afternoon, Messiah got off to an early 2-0 start when Erin Cressman hit a two run homer over the left field fence.

Alvernia got one back in the bottom of the first when Riley Shields singled to left center to drive in Morgan Psiuk, who got on early in the inning with a triple down the right field line.

Alvernia's offense came alive with a five run bottom of the second to take th 6-2 lead. Sarah Reinert loaded the bases with a single through the right side, and Morgan Psiuk drove two in with a double to the left gap. Bystrycki then reached on a throwing error, allowing Reinert to score. Shields capped off the inning with a single down the right field line to drive in two more runs and put Alvernia up four.

Alvernia added what would be a much needed insurance run in the bottom of the third when Psiuk singled up the middle to score Analise Fouracre.
Messiah got three back in the top of the fifth to make it 7-5 and cut the lead down to 7-6 in the top of the sixth.

The Falcons had the game tying run on second with two outs in the top of the second, but Alvernia forced a ground out to third to end the game with the 7-6 win.

Shields pitched the complete game, striking out five.

Psiuk led Alvernia's offense with a three-for-four performance and three RBIs. She was a homerun shy of hitting for the cycle. Shields also finished with three RBIs on the day.

In game two of the afternoon, Alvernia again fell behind early when Messiah singled to left field to drive in a run.

The Falcons took a 3-0 lead in the top of the fourth.

After being held to just four hits heading into the sixth, Alvernia put together an impressive offensive performance to rally back. JoAnnah Lim got things started with a triple to left field to drive in Bystrycki. With runners on first and second, and facing two strikes, Nicole August came up with a triple down the right field line that reached the fence, allowing Alyssa Acker and Kerstin Koenig to score to tie the game at 3-3. In the next at bat, Analise Fouracre drove in the go-ahead run with a single to left field to bring in August and put Alvernia up 4-3.

With two on and two outs in the top of the seventh, Ally Decker struck out Cressman looking to seal the 4-3 win.

Decker pitched all seven for Alvernia, striking out three.

August went 1-for-2 with two RBIs, and Fouracre went a perfect 3-for-3 with the game-winning RBI to lead Alvernia's offense in game two.

The Golden Wolves take a break from their MAC Commonwealth schedule when they host Neumann University on Thursday.