Reading, Pa. (March 21, 2021) - Alvernia University (6-3-1, 2-1-1) picked up a 6-4 win in game one on Sunday and then tied the Falcons 10-10 in game two in a doubleheader with Messiah University (2-6-1, 1-6-1) on Sunday afternoon at Alvernia.

Game two was suspended going into the top of the 10th for darkness. Its official result is a tie.

The Falcons struck first in game one of the afternoon, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly to center field.

Alvernia responded in its half of the first, taking a 5-1 lead. Mike Cirilli was Alvernia's first base runner of the afternoon after he doubled down the left field line in the second at bat of the inning. After advancing to third on a passed ball, Cirilli nearly got caught in a run down between third and home during Nick Nutile's at bat. Cirilli got back to third safely and would then score on a fielder's choice RBI by Thomas Faggioni to put Alvernia up 1-0. With the bases loaded, Jason Kelly ripped a grand slam to Alvernia's bullpen in left field to put the Golden Wolves up 5-1.

After threatening in both the top of the third and top of the fourth, Messiah got within one run with a three run fifth to cut Alvernia's lead down to 5-4.

Alvernia again responded, tacking on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth with Brandon Smith driving in Faggioni on an RBI single to right to extend Alvernia's lead to 6-4.

The Falcons wouldn't get another runner in scoring position the rest of the game as Alvernia took the 6-4 lead. 

Jake Reese picked up the win on the mound for Alvernia and Mike Cirilli earned the save.

Just like in game one, the Falcons wasted no time putting up runs in game two, going up 2-0 in the top of the first on just three hits.

Alvernia responded in the bottom of the first, tying it up at 2-2 on an RBI double by Brandon Smith to drive in Cirilli and Nutile.

The Falcons tacked on another two runs in the top of the second to go up 4-2, and would extend it to 5-2 with another run added in the top of the third. Messiah would the go up 6-2 with a run in the top of the fifth.

Alvernia came storming back in the bottom of the fifth, scoring four runs to tie it at 6-6. A Billy Dougar triple to the right gap drove in Alvernia's first one of the inning, and a sac fly by Cirilli in the next at-bat drove in Dougar. Smith then drove in Nutile on a line drive out to left field, with Nutile tagging up and beating out the throw. Kelly then singled through the left side to drive in Faggioni and tie the game up at 6-6.

Messiah responded in the top of the sixth, scoring four runs on six straight hits to take the 10-6 lead over the Golden Wolves. 

The Golden Wolves weren't going down without a fight though, once again responding in their half of the inning. Alvernia's Billy Coleman took advantage of Messiah mistakes to make his way around the bases and ultimately score on a passed ball to make it 10-7 in favor of the Falcons. Smith then drove in two runs on a single through the left side to cut Messiah's lead down to one, 10-9.

Alvernia had a runner on third with one out in the bottom of the seventh but was unable to convert. 

The Golden Wolves would tie it up at 10-10 on a bases loaded walk by TJ McNeely in the bottom of the eighth. 

Both Messiah and Alvernia threatened in the ninth, with the Falcons having a runner on third with one out and Alvernia having a runner on second with no outs, but neither team was able to put a runner across home.

The game would then be suspended for darkness heading into the tenth, with the official final result being a 10-10 tie.

Smith led Alvernia's offensive efforts in game two with five RBIs off of two hits and four appearances. 

Alvernia returns to action next weekend with a series against York that gets started with a doubleheader at Alvernia on Saturday.