Reading, Pa. (April 9, 2022) - Alvernia University (12-17-1, 5-3) split a MAC Commonwealth baseball doubleheader with York College (13-12, 4-3) on Saturday at Alvernia, with the Spartans taking game one by a 6-4 decision and the Golden Wolves rallying in game two for a 14-2 win.

In game one of the Saturday doubleheader, York got out to a fast start and held off a late push by Alvernia for the 6-4 win.

The Spartans opened the game with a three run first inning off of two hits. The Spartans then added another three runs in the top of the second with York's Joe Cappobianco hitting a three run shot to left center field to give the Spartans a 6-0 advantage.

Alvernia got one back in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly by Matt Edwards to bring in Thomas Faggioni. Faggioni then came around to score in the bottom of the fourth to cut it down to 6-2 on a Mike Ramundo groundout. 

The Golden Wolves then got within two, 6-4, on a two-run homer by Billy Coleman to left field. 

Alvernia then got out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the seventh to keep it at a two-run deficit, but the Golden Wolves could not get any closer the rest of the way.

Alvernia's best opportunity to even it up came in the bottom of the ninth with Alvernia getting the first two batters on base. The Spartans then made a pitching change and retired Alvernia's next three batters for the 6-4 win. 

Jake Reese got the start for Alvernia and struck out six in seven innings of work. Coleman led Alvernia's offense with two hits and two RBIs.

In game two of the afternoon, the Golden Wolves struck first with a four run bottom of the second. A double by Jason Lind drove in Alvernia's first two runs of the game and a Billy Dougar double  drove in the next two for the 4-0 lead.

The Spartans got one back in the top of the third, but a solo shot by Faggioni to lead off the bottom of the third put Alvernia back up by four, 5-1.

The Spartans again made it a three run game with a run in the top of the sixth, 5-2.

Alvernia extended its lead to five runs, 7-2, in the bottom of the seventh with Faggioni driving in Dougar and Ramundo driving in Nick Nutile. 

Alvernia's offense then exploded in the bottom of the eighth to increase its lead to 12, 14-2. All of Alvernia's runs came off with two outs on the board, and Nick Nutile got things started by reaching on a fielding error that allowed Luca Grammatica to score. Faggioni then doubled down the line to bring in Justin Ayala and Nutile came around on a bases-loaded walk. With the bases still loaded, Edwards drove a grand slam over the left field wall to put Alvernia up 14-2.

With two on in the top of the ninth, Anthony Mortimer, pitching in relief, forced a flyout to end the game with Alvernia taking the 14-2 win.

Jake Umans got the win on the mound for Alvernia, allowing just seven hits in seven innings of work. Faggioni led Alvernia with three hits and three RBIs. 

Alvernia is back in action on Tuesday at TCNJ.