York, Pa (April 27, 2024) - Alvernia University (23-14, 8-6) split its final MAC Commonwealth regular season series against York College (22-16, 9-5) in a softball doubleheader Saturday at York. 

The Golden Wolves took game one 6-5 after scoring four runs in the fourth and another in the fifth but the Spartans bounced back in game two with a 6-5 win to secure the split. 

Game 1
Score: Alvernia 6, York 5
Records: Alvernia (23-13, 8-5), York (21-16, 8-5) 
Hits: Alvernia (8), York (8) 
Errors: Alvernia (2), York (2)
WP: Maggie Loomis (14-4) LP: Gretchen Barstad (0-4) 

How it Happened 

• The Golden Wolves took the early lead after Taylor McClain worked a bases loaded walk forced in a run and gave Alvernia a 1-0 advantage in the second inning. 
• The Spartans responded with three runs in the third to grab the 3-1 lead thanks to an RBI double, a RBI groundout and an Alvernia error to take the two run lead. 
• The Golden Wolves then tallied four runs in the fourth inning to regain the lead. An error by the Spartans allowed a run to score and then Brooke Hauck doubled to drive in another before another Spartan error allowed two more runs to score to make it a 5-3 game. 
• York tied the game up in the bottom of the fourth after a two RBI single made it a 5-5 ballgame. 
• Alvernia scored the game winning run in the top of the fifth when Emily Sano recorded an RBI single to score Alexia Fitzgerald to make it 6-5. 
• Maggie Loomis shut the Spartans down in the final three innings to secure the 6-5 victory. 

Alvernia Offensive Leaders

• Hauck: 1-4 (RBI, 2B, RS) 
• Sano: 1-3 (RBI, RS, BB) 
• Fitzgerald: 2-4 (2 RS, BB) 
• McClain: (RBI, RS, 3 BB) 

Alvernia Pitching 

• Maggie Loomis (W, 14-4) - 7 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 5 K

Game 2
Score: York 6, Alvernia 5
Records: Alvernia (23-14, 8-6), York (22-16, 9-5) 
Hits: Alvernia (7), York (8) 
Errors: Alvernia (1), York (1)
WP: Krysten Coppage (13-4)  LP: Kelsey Racine (3-4) SV: Gretchen Barstad (2) 

How it Happened 

• A two run homer in the bottom of the first inning saw the Spartans jump out to an early 2-0 lead. 
• York then tacked on four more in the third after a RBI single down the right field line and then Emma Wade hit her second homer of the game, this one a three run shot to make it a 6-0 game. 
• Alvernia grabbed two back in the fourth after a Paige Paciolla single to right scored Jaclyn Barbera and a sacrifice fly by Payton Splain cut the York lead to four. 
• The Golden Wolves pulled within one in the fifth when Meryn Bellacima knocked in two runs with a two RBI single and Bellacima then scored on a Julie Burkhardt fielder's choice to make it a 6-5 game. 
• Alvernia could not get another run across in its final two at bats as the Spartans took game two and secured the series split. 

Alvernia Offensive Leaders

• Bellacima: 2-4 (2 RBI, RS) 
• Barbera: 2-2 (RS, SAC) 
• Burkhardt: (RBI) 
• Splain: (RBI, SF) 

Alvernia Pitching 

• Kelsey Racine (L, 3-4) - 6 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER, BB, 4 K

Of Note

• The Golden Wolves secured the four seed in the MAC Commonwealth playoffs after Saturday's doubleheader. Alvernia will play #1 Eastern in the first round of the MAC Commonwealth playoffs. 

Up Next 

• The Golden Wolves are back in action on Thursday May 2nd when they take on Eastern in the MAC Commonwealth playoffs.