Baseball 3/2/2020 10:05:00 PM by Jon King (SID)

Alvernia Scrapes Out A Win Over Otterbein, 6-5

Lutz Earns Win Number 899

BOX SCORE Port Charlotte, Fla. (Mar. 2, 2020) - Alvernia University (3-4) posted two 3-run innings in 6-5 win over Otterbein College (3-3) Monday afternoon in non-conference baseball action on Spring Break.

Otterbein opened the scoring on a two-run double in the second inning and tacked on a run in the fifth. The Cardinals had two on with no one out in the sixth inning and tried to move them up with a sacrifice, but the batter was ruled out on protest for using an illegal bat and the runners returned to first and second. Alvernia sophomore Michael Tancredi then escaped the inning getting an around the horn double play.

Alvernia's offense came to life in the bottom of the sixth. Nick Nutile scored from second on a throwing error by the Cardinals' shortstop and Thomas Faggioni drove in two runs to tie the score at 3-3 with a two-out single to center.

The first two batters for the Cardinals in the seventh were hit by pitches and Faggioni picked a runner off second for the first out. Alvernia got the second out on a grounder to second and Brandon Coyle came in to get the final out of the inning on a grounder to first.

Alvernia loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh on two Cardinal errors and a walk. TJ McNeely singled in a run and Gavin Blankenbiller plated two more for a 6-3 Alvernia lead.

Otterbein cut the deficit down to 6-5 in the eighth when two batters walked and eventually came around to score. Mike Cirilli pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to nail down the save.

Nutile, Faggioni, Blankenbiller, and Justin Ayala all had two hits for the Golden Wolves. Coyle threw an inning and a third and picked up the win.

Alvernia head coach Yogi Lutz picked up his 899th career win and faces Finlandia on a doubleheader Tuesday morning looking for win number 900.

Alvernia 6, Otterbein 5

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Players Mentioned

#34 Gavin Blankenbiller: 1B/P; 6' 3"; Sophomore; L/L

#4 Mike Cirilli: IF/P; 5' 8"; Senior; R/R

#2 Nick Nutile: IF; 5' 9"; Sophomore; L/R

#32 Michael Tancredi: P; 6' 0"; Sophomore; L/L

#6 Justin Ayala: IF; 5' 8"; Junior; R/R

#9 TJ McNeely: IF; 6' 1"; First Year; L/R

#15 Thomas Faggioni: C; 5' 11"; First Year; R/R

#43 Brandon Coyle: P; 6' 0"; First Year; R/L

Players Mentioned

#34 Gavin Blankenbiller
: 6' 3"; Sophomore; L/L
: 1B/P

#4 Mike Cirilli
: 5' 8"; Senior; R/R
: IF/P

#2 Nick Nutile
: 5' 9"; Sophomore; L/R
: IF

#32 Michael Tancredi
: 6' 0"; Sophomore; L/L
: P

#6 Justin Ayala
: 5' 8"; Junior; R/R
: IF

#9 TJ McNeely
: 6' 1"; First Year; L/R
: IF

#15 Thomas Faggioni
: 5' 11"; First Year; R/R
: C

#43 Brandon Coyle
: 6' 0"; First Year; R/L
: P