Reading, Pa. (May 1, 2023) - Lebanon Valley College (24-15-1, 19-5) swept the Monday doubleheader of the regular season final three game series with Alvernia University (25-15, 15-9) to secure the #1 spot over Alvernia in the MAC Commonwealth Championship this weekend.
In game one of the doubleheader, Lebanon Valley used a three run seventh inning to take a 6-3 win over Alvernia. That win for the Dutchmen locked them in as the #1 seed in the MAC Commonwealth, and put Alvernia at #2.
Both teams took advantage of errors in their halves of the first inning to get on the board. Lebanon Valley put one on the board on an infield error by Alvernia. Joe Glass evened the game up at 1-1 in the bottom of the first after advancing to third on an error during Zach Rogacki's at-bat, and scored on a ground out by Mike Ramundo.
The Dutchmen took the lead, 3-1, in the top of the third on back-to-back hits to the outfield.
After a scoreless fourth inning, Alvernia got within one as Cameron Abele scored on a double play by the Dutchmen to bring Alvernia within one, 3-2.
Both teams went hitless in the sixth as Lebanon Valley held a narrow one run lead going into the top of the seventh. But, the Dutchmen added three runs on a bases loaded walk and a two-run single to grab some insurance runs and take a 6-2 lead.
Alvernia got one back as Connor Friedel led off the bottom of the seventh with a solo homer, but Alvernia did not threaten the rest of the way as the Dutchmen took game one.
In game two, the Dutchmen took a 6-0 lead and never looked back as they scored runs in the second, third, and fifth innings. Alvernia got one back in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single by Brandon Smith, but Alvernia never threatened further as the Dutchmen took the 6-1 win.
Connor Friedel and
Brandon Smith picked up two hits for Alvernia. Rogacki went 1-for-2 to pick up his 100th career hit.
Alvernia is back in action this weekend for the MAC Commonwealth semifinals. The series is a best of three game series beginning on Saturday. Alvernia is the #2 seed in the tournament and will play either York or Widener who are competing for the #3 seed tomorrow.
