Reading, Pa (April 7, 2023) - Alvernia University's (10-8, 3-5) bats came alive as the Golden Wolves combined for 24 runs on 26 hits in a doubleheader sweep of Albright College (2-14, 0-6) on Friday afternoon in MAC Commonwealth softball action at Alvernia.

In game one of the afternoon, Alvernia put up nine runs in back-to-back innings to secure an 18-0 win in five innings over the Lions. The 18-0 win marked Alvernia's largest margin of victory over Albright in program history. Alvernia then took a 6-0 win over Albright in game two to take the series sweep in shutout fashion. 

After a scoreless first and second inning for Alvernia, the Golden Wolves broke it open in the bottom of the third as Alvernia scored nine runs on eight hits. Alexia Fitzgerald got things going with a single followed by a stolen base. She then came around to score on a Jaclyn Barbera double down the left field line. Barbera and Maggie Loomis then scored on a two-run double by Meryn Bellacima.

Paige Paciolla kept the inning rolling on an infield single to score Bellacima, and Paciolla then scored during an error on the at-bat of Devan Hudson to give Alvernia the 5-0 lead. Allison Kirschner then cleared the bases on a two-run double to bring in Hudson and Brooke Weister and give Alvernia the 7-0 advantage.

Alvernia batted around and Fitzgerald came around for the second time in the inning and scored Kirschner on a single to left. Barbera capped things off with her second double of the inning to give Alvernia the 9-0 lead as she scored Loomis.

Alvernia got right back to work in the bottom of the fourth, putting up another nine spot on seven hits. Weister led off with an infield single, and came around to score on the next at-bat as Hudson doubled to left field. Alaina Snader then drove in Hudson on a single to center, and Kirschner scored during an error on Natalie Berwick's at-bat.

Keana Noel then drove in Snader on a single to left, and Maddie Matthews drove in Berwick on a single to left of her own to give Alvernia the 14-0 lead. Gabby Panebianco then drove in Noel on a sacrifice hit. Alvernia capped off the inning with a bang as Payton Splain hit a three-run pinch hit homer to left field to give Alvernia the commanding 18-0 lead. 

Albright got a runner on in the top of the fifth, but the Lions never threatened as Alvernia took the 18-0 win.

Five Golden Wolves finished with two hits for Alvernia. Barbera and Bellacima finished with two RBIs, and Weister finished with two runs.

Loomis picked up the win in the circle for Alvernia, scattering three hits and striking out two.

The Golden Wolves got back to work in game two with a 6-0 win over the Lions to secure a shutout sweep of Albright.

Alvernia got started in the first putting up one run in the bottom of the first as Barbera hit her third double of the day and was driven in by a Bellacima single to give Alvernia the 1-0 lead.

Alvernia then put up four runs on four hits in the bottom of the third to take the 5-0 lead. Fitzgerald reached on an error to start off the inning, and came around to score on an error during Barbera's at-bat. Bellacima then singled to score Loomis, and a single from Weister drove in Barbera. Hudson capped off the inning with a double to deep center to score Weister and give Alvernia the 5-0 advantage.

The Golden Wolves tacked one on in the sixth as Tara Tumasz stepped in for a pinch hit triple to score Kalli Bunnell and give Alvernia the 6-0 lead.

Albright never threatened in the top of the seventh as Alvernia was able to take the 6-0 win and series sweep.

Bellacima stayed hot in game two, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs to again lead Alvernia's offense.

Ashlyn Hillanbrand picked up the win in the circle for Alvernia, going seven innings and striking out six.

Alvernia is back in action on Thursday at Dickinson.