Reading, Pa. (March 20, 2022) - Alvernia University (6-9-1) put up 16 runs on 23 hits in an offensive explosion to lift Alvernia to a 16-5 win over New Jersey City University (5-6) on Sunday afternoon in non-conference baseball action at Alvernia's Angelica Park.

Alvernia's 23 hits is its most in a nine inning game since Alvernia put up 30 hits in a 30-3 win over Rivier on March 8, 2017.

After a scoreless first inning, Alvernia's first run of the contest came in the bottom of the second with Connor Friedel driving in Brandon Smith with a sacrifice fly to left field to give Alvernia the 1-0 lead.

NJCU then took the lead, 2-1, in the top of the third on a two-run double to the right gap, but Alvernia responded with a three-run bottom of the third to go up 4-2 on the Gothic Knights. A throwing error on Jason Lind's at-bat brought in Lucas Floyd, and Billy Dougar doubled down the line to bring in Kyler Newton and Brandon Smith.

The Gothic Knights made it a one-run game again in the top of the fourth with an RBI double, but Alvernia again answered in its half of the inning.

With Joe Ginder loading the bases on a bunt for a hit, Nick Nutile hit a hard shot back at the pitcher that allowed Justin Ayala to score. Lind then hit a sac fly to center to bring in Floyd, and Ginder and Nutile were able to come around and score on an infield single to put Alvernia up 8-3. 

RBIs from Nutile and Lind extended Alvernia's lead to seven, 10-3, in the bottom of the fifth, and the Golden Wolves tacked on four more in the bottom of the sixth to go up 14-3 on the Gothic Knights. Dougar, Ayala, Floyd, and Nutile each recorded an RBI in the sixth.

The Gothic Knights got two back in the top of the seventh, but Alvernia matched it with two runs in the bottom of the seventh to make it 16-5.  After Newton led off the inning with a double to the left gap, Ayala brought him in with a double of his own to left field. Floyd recorded the final RBI of the game with a single through the right side to drive in Ayala for the 16-5 final.

Alvernia's Jack Cossa got the win on the mound, striking out three and allowing six hits in six and two-thirds innings of work. Both Nick Calicari and Michael Tancredi made relief appearances, with Calicari striking out one and Tancredi striking out all three batters he faced. 

Floyd led Alvernia with a career-high five hits. He also drove in two runs and scored three of his own. Nutile and Smith each finished with three RBIs, Ayala finished with four runs.

The Golden Wolves have a short turnaround and will host Kean University on Monday at 3:00 PM.