Reading, Pa (April 5, 2024) - Chris Sasso fanned nine batters to power Alvernia University (14-9, 7-3) to an 8-0 shutout victory over Eastern University (11-11, 5-4) in a MAC Commonwealth baseball matchup Friday afternoon in Angelica Park. 

The Golden Wolves tallied six runs in the first two innings to jump out to a six run lead. Sasso cruised through the middle innings, shutting down the Eagles time and time again to keep the lead at six through six. The Golden Wolves then tacked on two more insurance runs in the home half of the seventh after two solo homers made it 8-0. Sasso and Jake Umans shut Eastern down in the eighth and ninth innings to secure the 8-0 shutout victory over the Eagles and grab game one of the MAC Commonwealth series. 

Score: Alvernia 8, Eastern 0
Records: Alvernia (14-9, 7-3), Eastern (11-11, 5-4)
Hits: Alvernia (13), Eastern (4)
Errors: Alvernia (0), Eastern (0)
WP: Chris Sasso (3-3) LP: Scott Cottrell (4-3) 

How it Happened 

• The Golden Wolves got on the board in the home half of the first inning thanks to an RBI single to left field by Jason Kelly that scored Quincy Esannason to grab the 1-0 lead. 
• Chris Sasso started on the bump for the Golden Wolves and fanned four of the first seven batters he faced in the first two innings. 
• The Golden Wolves tacked five more on in the bottom half of the second inning to take a 6-0 lead. Jake Chapman started things off with a two RBI single through the right side, and then Mike Ramundo followed him up by ripping a two RBI triple into the right center gap to make it a five run game. Kelly then notched his second RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to center field that was deep enough to plate Ramundo and make it a 6-0 ballgame. 
• Alvernia and Eastern went scoreless through the next four innings before the Golden Wolves put up a two spot in the bottom of the seventh when Matt Edwards belted a towering solo homer into the left field trees, and, later in the inning, Timmy Hitchcock laced his first collegiate home run into the Alvernia bullpen to extend the lead to 8-0. 
• Sasso's day ended after eight scoreless innings after retiring the side 1,2,3 in the top of the eighth. Sasso finished with nine strikeouts, two walks, and allowed just three hits..
• Jake Umans came on in relief of Sasso and shut the Eagles down in the top of the ninth to secure the shutout. 

Alvernia Offensive Leaders 

• Mike Ramundo - 3-4 (3B, 2 RBI, RS)
• Jason Kelly - 2-3 (2 RBI, SF)
• Jake Chapman - 1-4 (2 RBI, RS)
• Garrett Hunter - 2-3 (RS)
• Logan Nelson - 2-4 (2B, RS)
• Matt Edwards - 1-4 (HR, RBI, RS)

Alvernia Defensive Leaders

• Garrett Hunter - 11 putouts, 0 errors, 0 passed balls
• Timmy Hitchcock - 2 putouts, 2 assists, 0 errors

Alvernia Pitching 

• Chris Sasso (W, 3-3) - 8 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 K's
• Jake Umans - 1 IP, 1 H, 2 K's

Up Next 

• The Golden Wolves are back in action tomorrow when they travel to Eastern for games two and three of the MAC Commonwealth series with the Eagles. Games are set for 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM.