Reading, Pa. (May 6, 2023) - #2 Alvernia University (26-15) overcame a four-run deficit and held off a late threat from #3 Widener University (21-18) to take game one, 7-6, of the MAC Commonwealth Semifinal on Saturday afternoon at Alvernia. 

Widener took a 4-0 lead before Alvernia took the lead, 5-4, in the bottom of the fifth. Alvernia made it a 7-4 game in the sixth. Widener got one back in the 7th, had the bases loaded in the eighth, and had the game-tying run on second in the ninth. But, Alvernia got out of the jam to take game one, 7-6.

The Pride struck first with a two spot in the top of the second as Widener scored two runs on four hits. Widener threatened to add to its lead as the Pride had the bases loaded with two outs, but Alvernia got out of the jam.

Widener tacked on two more in the top of the fourth on a triple and a groundout to push its lead to 4-0.

Alvernia got on the board in its half of the fourth as Zach Rogacki led off the inning with a homer into deep right. Later in the inning with two on, Billy Dougar hit a single up the middle to score Jason Kelly and bring Alvernia within two, 4-2, going into the fifth.

The Golden Wolves then took a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the fifth. Rogacki got things going with a single up the middle to score Thomas Faggioni, who led off the inning with a double. Alvernia then took the 5-4 lead as Connor Friedel knocked a single into the dead zone between first and right field to score Rogacki and Cameron Abele.

Alvernia added some room to work with in the sixth as Rogacki went yard for the second time on the afternoon for a two-run homer to right field. Rogacki scored Faggioni to make it a 7-4 game. 

Widener got back within two, 7-5, on an RBI single in the seventh.

The Pride threatened to tack on another run in the eighth as Widener had the bases loaded with two outs. But, Shayne Ostrowsky got out of the jam on the mound by forcing a flyout to center field for the third out of the inning.

Widener again threatened in the top of the ninth. Widener got within one, 7-6, on an RBI single to the left gap. Widener then had two one with two out, put Matt Mays picked off the lead runner at second to end the game with Alvernia grabbing the 7-6 win.

Rogacki led Alvernia with three hits - including two homers - and four RBIs. Evan Wood got the win on the mound for Alvernia in six innings of work. Mays grabbed the save for Alvernia.

The best of three series will conclude tomorrow. Game two of the series begins at noon. If game three is necessary, it will be immediately after game two.