Owings Mills, Md. (April 23, 2023) - Alvernia University (24-12, 15-6) posted two come-from-behind wins over Stevenson University (17-16, 10-11) on Sunday afternoon to complete the series sweep over the Mustangs in MAC Commonwealth baseball action at Stevenson.

With the wins, Alvernia clinched a spot in the MAC Commonwealth Championship. 

In game one of the afternoon, Alvernia trailed 3-0 entering the fifth. Alvernia evened it up in the top of the fifth before Stevenson retook the lead, 5-3, in its half of the fifth. Alvernia responded with another three-run inning in the top of the sixth, and held onto the lead from there for the 6-5 win.

The Mustangs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on an RBI groundout to first. The Mustangs added a run in the bottom of the second on an RBI single, and made it a 3-0 game in the bottom of the fourth on an infield error by Alvernia.

Alvernia got on the board in the top of the fifth with a Grant Fitzgerald single up the middle to score Joe Glass. Alvernia then evened the game up at 3-3 when Jason Kelly drove in Fitzgerald and Mike Ramundo on a bases loaded double to center field. 

But, the Mustangs got right back in front in their half of the fifth. Stevenson scored two runs on back-to-back singles to take a 5-3 lead.

Alvernia responded in the top of the sixth with a second three-run inning. With runners on the corners, Thomas Faggioni hit a triple to the left gap to clear the bases and even it up at 5-5. Zach Rogacki then hit a single through the right side to score Faggioni and give Alvernia the 6-5 lead.

The Mustangs loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth, but Alvernia was able to get out of the jam. Alvernia then retired the side in the bottom of the seventh to take the 6-5 win in the first game of the doubleheader.

Faggioni and Ramundo finished with two hits each. Faggioni and Kelly finished with two RBIs. Josh Kreider picked up the win in relief for Alvernia and Matt Mays grabbed the save.

In game two of the afternoon, Alvernia trailed 3-0 after the first and 3-2 going into sixth. The Golden Wolves put up six runs in the top of the sixth to take an 8-3 lead, but the Mustangs got back within one in their half of the sixth. Alvernia picked up some room to work with in the top of the seventh and held off a Mustang threat to take the 10-8 win and secure the sweep.

The Mustangs took an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first, scoring three runs on two hits.

Alvernia got one back in the top of the second as Brandon Smith scored Kelly on a single down the left field line. The Golden Wolves then got within one in the top of the third as Faggioni scored on a fielder's choice on Ramundo's at-bat.

Alvernia went without a hit in the fourth and fifth before coming alive in the sixth. The Mustangs walked the first two Alvernia batters of the inning. Smith doubled to drive in Jacob Rodriguez for the first run of the inning, and Robert Hansen hit a sac fly to score Kelly for the second run. Faggioni then hit his second triple of the afternoon to drive in Smith and Cameron Abele singled to bring in Faggioni. Rogacki kept things rolling with a triple of his to bring in Abele, and Ramundo capped off the inning with a single to bring in Rogacki and give Alvernia the 8-3 lead.

The Mustangs stayed in it, though, picking up four runs on two hits to make it an 8-7 game in favor of the Golden Wolves going into the seventh.

Alvernia added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Hansen hit a sac fly to score Kelly, and Faggioni recorded his third triple of the afternoon to score Jason Lind and make it a 10-7 game.

The Mustangs threatened in the bottom of the seventh, scoring a run with two outs to get within two, 10-8. Alvernia then forced a flyout on the game-tying run at the plate to end the game and secure the 10-8 win.

Faggioni led Alvernia in game two with three hits - including two triples - two runs scored and two RBIs. Matt Colucci got the win for Alvernia in relief, and Mays came back in game two to pick up his second save of the afternoon.

Alvernia is back in action on Tuesday hosting Rutgers-Camden for its final non-conference game of the year. Alvernia then closes out conference play against Lebanon Valley beginning on Friday. The Dutchmen sit one game ahead of Alvernia atop the conference standings.