Cleveland, OH. (May 18, 2024) - Alvernia University (29-18) held off elimination in game one of the day by defeating Ithaca College (31-11) but fell to Case Western Reserve University (33-10) in the regional semifinal Saturday at Case Western Reserve's Nobby's Ballpark.
The Golden Wolves took down the Bombers in the first game of the day in Cleveland 10-4, behind a massive performance from Nick Ferraioli on the hill. The Golden Wolves then battled against the host Case Western Reserve but fell to the Spartans for the second time in as many days and were eliminated from the regional tournament.
CWRU moves on and takes on defending NCAA DIII national champions Lynchburg University tomorrow at 11:00 AM. The Spartans must defeat Lynchburg twice to secure the regional title.
Game 1:
Score: Alvernia 10, Ithaca 4
Records: Alvernia (29-17), Ithaca (31-11)
Hits: Alvernia (13), Ithaca (7)
Errors: Alvernia (1), Ithaca (1)
WP: Nick Ferraioli (8-0)
LP: Jack Picozzi (4-2)
How it Happened
- The Golden Wolves struck first in the bottom of the first thanks to a Matt Edwards two RBI double into the right center gap that scored Mike Ramundo and Jake Chapman to make it 2-0 early.
- Alvernia tacked three on in the second inning after a bases loaded walk from Ramundo forced in a run and then Jason Kelly ripped a two RBI single into left to push the Alvernia lead to 5-0.
- Ithaca pulled two back in the top of the fourth inning to pull within three, 5-2 but it did not last long as the Golden Wolves responded with three in the bottom half of the inning.
- Ramundo started things off and reached thanks to a Bombers error that also drove a run in. Edwards then drove in his third run of the day with an RBI single and then Garrett Hunter drove in the eighth run for the Golden Wolves with a single to center field and made it a 8-2 ballgame.
- Ithaca tallied a run in the top of the fifth via a sacrifice fly to make it 8-3 Golden Wolves.
- The Golden Wolves responded yet again with two more runs in the home half of the sixth to make it 10-3. Bobby Hansen started things off with an RBI triple and then scored thanks to a Hunter sacrifice fly to make it a seven run ballgame.
- Ithaca grabbed one in the ninth but it was not enough as Evan Thomas came in and closed the game out for the Golden Wolves and secured the 10-4 victory in a must win ballgame against the Bombers.
Alvernia Offensive Leaders
- Hunter: 3-4 (2 RBI, SF)
- Edwards: 2-4 (3 RBI, 2B, 2 RS, BB)
- Hansen: 3-5 (RBI, 3B, RS)
- Kelly: 2-5 (2 RBI)
- Ramundo: 1-3 (RBI, HBP)
Alvernia Defensive Leaders
- Edwards: 9 PO, 1 A
- Esannason: 5 PO
- Ramundo: 2 PO, 2 A
Alvernia Pitching
Of Note
- The victory is the first for the Golden Wolves in a NCAA DIII Regional since the 2015 season when they defeated Catholic in a regional.
- The Golden Wolves improve to 20-29 overall all-time in NCAA Regionals.
Game 2:
Score: CWRU 8, Alvernia 3
Records: Alvernia (29-18), CWRU (33-10)
Hits: Alvernia (8), CWRU (14)
Errors: Alvernia (1), CWRU (0)
WP: Tyler Horvath (2-0)
LP: Jason Kelly (3-1)
How it Happened
- The Golden Wolves got on the board first with two runs in the second thanks to a Nelson two RBI single through the right side that plated Hansen and Hunter to make it 2-0 Alvernia.
- The Spartans cut the lead in half in the third after an RBI groundout made it a 2-1 ballgame.
- Nelson tallied his third RBI of the game with another RBI single, this one to center and put the Golden Wolves up 3-1 after four innings of play.
- Case Western Reserve then came alive in the sixth inning and put up four runs to take the 5-3 lead.
- The Spartans then tacked on three more runs in the seventh to make it an 8-3 ballgame.
- The Golden Wolves were unable to get any runs across in the final three at bats as the Spartans secured the 8-3 victory and eliminated Alvernia from the regional.
Alvernia Offensive Leaders
- Nelson: 2-3 (3 RBI)
- Hansen: 1-3 (2B, 2 RS, BB)
- Ramundo: 2-4
Alvernia Defensive Leaders
- Edwards: 9 PO, 1 A
- Lind: 10 PO, 2 A
- Hansen: 3 PO, 1 A
Alvernia Pitching
- Kelly (L, 3-1) - 5.1 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
- Jake Umans - 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 2 K
- Matt Mays - 0.1 IP, 2 H, R, ER, K, WP
- Connor Friedel - 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R
- Brad Coley - 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, K
The loss marks the end of a fantastic season for the Golden Wolves. Alvernia ended the season with a 29-18 overall record and as the 2024 MAC Commonwealth Champions for the fourth time in program history.
