Owings Mills, Md (April 11, 2021) - Stevenson University (16-6, 12-4) swept Alvernia University (13-5, 13-5) to overtake the top spot in the MAC Commonwealth with one week remaining in the conference schedule following two wins over the Golden Wolves on Sunday afternoon at Stevenson.
Stevenson took game one 5-4 in eight innings and followed that with a 4-2 win in game two.
In game one, Alvernia got on the board in the top of the first following an RBI single to right field by Alyssa Acker to score Paige Paciolla.
Alvernia added two in the top of the third to extend its lead to 3-0. Sarah Reinert scored following an error on Maggie Loomis' at-bat, and Loomis came around to score following a double to right by Kerstin Koenig.
Ths Mustangs took Alvernia's lead down to one in the bottom of the fourth following back-to-back RBIs on singles to the outfield.
Alvernia extended its lead back to two runs in the top of the fifth after Paciolla drove in Reinert on a single to left field.
The Mustangs evened it up at 4-4 in their half of the fifth following a two-run home run over the left field fence. Stevenson threatened to add more with the bases loaded and one out, but Alvernia got out of the jam to keep it tied up at 4-4.
Stevenson had a runner on third in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings, but Alvernia got out of the jam both times.
Alvernia couldn't get anything going in the top of the eighth after grounding into a double play ended the inning.
Stevenson got a runner on in the bottom of the eighth with a one-out walk. The Mustangs then put down a slap towards third and Alvernia was unable to make a clean play at first, with the ball getting behind first base and into the outfield. The Mustangs took advantage of coverage mistakes by Alvernia to come around and score for the 5-4 win.
Reinert finished with two hits and two runs scored. Paciolla had two hits, a run scored, and an RBI.
In game two of the doubleheader, Alvernia again took an early lead in the top of the first when Alyssa Acker drove in Reinert on a single to center.
The Mustangs responded in their half of the first, plating three runs on two hits to take a 3-1 lead.
Alvernia wouldn't get a runner on base again until the top of the fifth when Sara Campbell hit an infield single, but she would be stranded on first.
The Mustangs would add an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single up the middle.
Koenig led off the top of the seventh for Alvernia with a double to the right gap, and would come around to score on a fielding error during Devon Hudson's at-bat. Alvernia would have the tying run at the plate with one out, but were unable to convert as the Golden Wolves fell 4-2.
With the 3-1 series win over Alvernia, the Mustangs take claim of the first place spot in the MAC Commonwealth - which Alvernia had held the majority of the season. While the regular season doesn't end for another two weeks, the MAC Commonwealth schedule ends this coming weekend. MAC Commonwealth postseason seedings will be based on conference-only win percentage. Stevenson currently stands with a .727 percentage to Alvernia's .722. The Mustangs close out their regular season against Widener University, who sits in eighth place in the standings. Alvernia closes out with Albright, who sits in ninth place.
