Cortland, Pa. (May 18, 2019) - Alvernia University (28-16-2) scored five runs in the sixth and three in the ninth, but the Golden Wolves comeback attempt fell short as Penn State Harrisburg defeated Alvernia 13-12 and eliminated them from the Cortland Regional on Saturday morning at SUNY Cortland.

In a three and a half hour slugfest that combined for 30 hits, five home runs, and 25 runs scored, the Lions would hold off Alvernia's last ditch efforts to advance in the regional.

Alvernia got things started in the bottom of the first when Ian Shaffer scored on a wild pitch to put the Golden Wolves up 1-0.

Alvernia would hold the 1-0 lead until the top of the third when the Lion plated four runs, including two unearned runs, to go up 4-1.

The Golden Wolves got one back in their half of the third when Mike Cirilli scored on a sac fly by Matthew Briner.

The Lions extended their lead 7-2 in the top of the fourth with an RBI single and a two-run homer to left center.

Penn State went up 8-2 in the top of the fifth with a moonshot by Zachary Koroneos to right field.

Alvernia again got one back in the bottom of the fifth when Briner drove in Shaffer with a single up the middle.

The Lions added two in the top of the sixth to go up 10-3 on the Golden Wolves.

Alvernia's offense came up big in the bottom of the sixth. The Golden Wolves loaded the bases on the first three at bats of the inning, allowing Joe Ginder to drive in a run with a single to right. With the bases loaded and one out two at-bats later, Cirilli hit a grand slam over the left field wall to put Alvernia within two, 10-8.

The Golden Wolves defense ended the Lions four inning scoring streak in the top of the seventh to keep the deficit at two.

Alex Salesky brought Alvernia within one, 10-9, in the bottom of the seventh with a solo shot to left center to lead off the inning, but the Golden Wolves stranded the game-tying run on second.

Penn State started off the top of the eighth with a leadoff walk then hit a two run homer to go up 12-9. The Lions would capitalize on a thrown away pickoff attempt to move a runner into scoring position later in the inning, and the runner would come around to score on a fielder's choice to put the Lions up 13-9.

The Golden Wolves again stranded the tying run on second base in the bottom of the eighth, but Alvernia's defense retired the side in the top of the ninth to stay within four.

Alvernia's offense threatened in the bottom of the ninth in Alvernia's final efforts to tie the game. The Golden Wolves loaded the bases with no outs, and made it 13-10 on a fielder's choice with Salesky scoring. Shaffer then singled to left field to bring in Jami Wendel to make it 13-11, and Cirilli drove in Ginder on a fielder's choice to make it 13-12. With the game-tying run on first and two outs, Harrisburg retired Nathan Sides on a strikeout to end Alvernia's threat and eliminate the Golden Wolves,

Nicholas Marotta pitched five innings and struck out four in the loss.

Cirilli led Alvernia's offense with two hits, including the grand slam, two runs scored and five RBIs.

Penn State would advance to a second elimination game later in the day against Tufts University, but Tufts would go on to eliminate the Lions, 7-4. Tufts and host
SUNY Cortland will meet in the Regional Championship on Sunday.

Alvernia finishes the season at 28-16-2 as the careers of 13 seniors come to end.