Chester, Pa. (March 13, 2021) - Alvernia University (1-1, 1-1) split its opening day doubleheader with Widener University (2-2) on Saturday in MAC Commonwealth Softball action at Widener. The Golden Wolves took game one in a decisive 9-0 win, and fell to the Pride 2-1 on a walk-off single in game two.

In game one of the doubleheader, Alvernia's offense wasted no time getting to work. Working in the leadoff spot, Alvernia's Sarah Reinert opened the game with a single to left. Reinert then stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Alyssa Acker then singled to third with two outs to drive Reinert in and give Alvernia the 1-0 lead. First-year Paige Paciolla then started off her collegiate career with a single to center to bring in Acker and put Alvernia up 2-0.

Alvernia was retired in order in the top of the second and stranded runners in the third and fourth before driving more in in the fifth. With one out, Reinert reached on an error and advanced to second on her second steal of the game. With Reinert in scoring position, Riley Shields singled to center to drive Reinert in and put Alvernia up 3-0. Acker singled in the next at-bat to drive in Maggie Loomis - who was walked earlier in the inning - and put Alvernia up 4-0. 

Reinert started off the top of the seventh with a solo homer to right field - the first homerun of the senior's career - to put Alvernia up 5-0. With two on, Acker hit into an error to drive in Loomis. Paciolla then hit a double to drive in Shields, and Kerstin Koenig capped off the inning with a two-run double in the next at-bat to seal the Golden Wolves up 9-0.

Offensively, Reinert led Alvernia with three hits, three runs, and an RBI. Acker, Paciolla, and Koenig each finished with two RBIs.

In the circle, pitcher Riley Shields put on a record breaking performance. The senior struck out a staggering 13 batters, toppling Alvernia's known school record of 11 strikeouts set by Emily Williams in March of 2008 against Penn State Berks. Shields had three innings with three strikeouts, and retired the side in the bottom of the fifth. She gave up just four hits in the win.

In game two of the afternoon, Alvernia's offense couldn't find the same rhythm it had in the first game. 

The Golden Wolves didn't get their first runner into scoring position until Julie Burkhardt singled to the pitcher and reached second on a groundout by Shields. Alvernia then struck out twice to end the threat. 

In the following inning, Sara Campbell walked with two outs to get on base. Reinert then tripled to right field to bring in Campbell and give Alvernia the 1-0 lead.

The Golden Wolves had a runner in scoring position in the top of the sixth but were unable to convert, and then struck out looking on three straight at bats in the top of the seventh. 


The Pride put the game tying run on with one out and got the game winning run on base following an error. The Pride then loaded the bases on a hit batter and tied the game up at 1-1 on a wild pitch. A walk-off single by the Pride's Lindsey Cooper lifted Widener to the 2-1 win. 

Reinert, Burkhardt, Shields, and Acker each finished with a hit in game two. Decker struck out one and gave up five hits in the circle for Alvernia.

The Golden Wolves return to the field tomorrow when they host the Pride in another doubleheader to close out the MAC Commonwealth series.