Collegeville, Pa (March 14, 2024) - Alvernia University (8-3) grabbed two from Ursinus College (5-9) to secure the series sweep over the Bears in a non-conference softball doubleheader Thursday evening at Ursinus.
The Golden Wolves squeezed out a close fought game one thanks to an Emily Sano RBI double that proved to be the difference in the game to secure the 3-2 victory. Alvernia and Ursinus then continued to battle into game two where both teams put up runs in three of the first four innings. But, a Payton Splain sacrifice fly and an Alexia Fitzgerald RBI triple saw the Golden Wolves take game two, 6-4 and secure the sweep.
Game 1
Score: Alvernia 3, Ursinus 2
Records: Alvernia (7-3), Ursinus (5-8)
Hits: Alvernia (9), Ursinus (6)
Errors: Alvernia (1), Ursinus (0)
WP: Maggie Loomis (3-1)
LP: Miranda McIlvaine (1-3)
How it Happened
- Ursinus recorded the first run of the game with an RBI double to left to give the Bears an early 1-0 lead after three.
- The Golden Wolves responded in the top half of the fourth inning when Payton LaScala ripped a triple into center field that plated Paige Paciolla to tie it at one.
- Tara Tumasz then followed LaScala with a sac fly to right field that was deep enough to allow LaScala to score and give Alvernia the 2-1 lead.
- Emily Sano tacked on the third run for the Golden Wolves in the top of the fifth when she ripped a double that drove in Brooke Hauck to make it a 3-1 ballgame.
- The Bears grabbed one back in the home half of the sixth inning thanks to a sac fly.
- Maggie Loomis shut down Ursinus in the bottom of the seventh to secure the 3-2 victory.
Alvernia Offensive Leaders
Alvernia Pitching
- Maggie Loomis went the distance in game one to earn her third win of the season. Loomis allowed two runs on six hits, tallied two strikeouts and issued just one walk.
Game 2
Score: Alvernia 6, Ursinus 4
Records: Alvernia (8-3), Ursinus (5-9)
Hits: Alvernia (10), Ursinus (7)
Errors: Alvernia (1), Ursinus (3)
WP: Natalie Berwick (2-0)
LP: Christa Andrusiew (2-4)
How it Happened
- Alvernia jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first after Tumaz and Fitzgerald executed a 1st and 3rd steal opportunity that allowed Fitzgerald to score on the throw and make it 1-0. Tumasz then came around to score on a Ursinus error to make it 2-0.
- Ursinus halved the deficit in the home half of the first when a bases-loaded fielder's choice allowed a run to score to make it a 2-1 ballgame.
- Payton Splain recorded a sac fly that plated Hauck in the second to extend Alvernia's lead to two, 3-1.
- The Bears bounced right back in the home half of the second with two runs to level the score at three. They then tallied a run in the home half of the third to grab the 4-3 lead after an RBI single.
- The Golden Wolves regained the lead in the fourth after Hauck singled through the right side and an error by Ursinus allowed Jaclyn Barbera to score and tie the game at four. Splain then tallied her second sac fly of the game to drive in Hauck and make it 5-4 Golden Wolves.
- Alvernia extended its lead to two in the sixth inning when Fitzgerald ripped an RBI triple down the right field line that plated Kalli Bunnell to make it a 6-4 ballgame.
- Natalie Berwick shut down the Bears in their final two at bats to secure the 6-4 victory and the series sweep.
Alvernia Offensive Leaders
- Fitzgerald - 3-4 (RBI, Run Scored)
- Hauck - 2-3 (2 Runs Scored, 2 SB)
- Barbera - 2-3 (Run Scored)
- Splain - 2 RBI
Alvernia Pitching
- Ashlyn Hillanbrand started in the circle for the Golden Wolves and allowed four runs on five hits. Natalie Berwick came on in relief of Hillanbrand and tossed five shutout innings, allowed just two hits, struck one batter out and earned the win.
Up Next
- The Golden Wolves are back in action on Saturday when they host Messiah in their home opener in Angelica Park. Game one will start at 1:00 PM and game two is set to start at 3:00 PM.
