Reading, Pa. (May 4, 2024) - #2 Alvernia University (26-15) scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth to overcome a 5-4 deficit and down #3 Hood College (23-17) 7-5 on Saturday morning at Alvernia as the Golden Wolves took the semifinal series, two games to none.

Alvernia led the best of three series going into Saturday morning after defeating Hood 7-3 on Friday. 

The Golden Wolves jumped out to an early 3-0 lead through four innings of play in game two.The Blazers came back and tied it in the fifth and took the lead in the seventh before Alvernai played three runs in the eighth to jump back ahead, 7-5. Alvernia's defense then retired the side in order in the top of the ninth to take the game two and the series win.

Score: Alvernia 7, Hood 5
Series: Alvernia Wins Series, 2-0
Records: Alvernia (26-15), Hood (23-17) 
Hits: Alvernia (14), Hood (10)
Errors: Alvernia (0), Hood (4)
WP: Ronald Kopcho (1-0)  LP: Harrison Ludington (2-1) SV: Brad Coley (7)

How it Happened

• After a scoreless first two innings, Alvernia broke the 0-0 tie in the bottom of the third. Logan Nelson reached on a double to the left gap with one out. Nelson then scored on a single by Quincy Esannason to the right gap to give Alvernia the 1-0 lead.
• Alvernia kept it rolling in the bottom of the fourth. Mike Ramundo led off the inning with a single to short and advanced to second on a bad throw by the shortstop. Jason Kelly bunted Ramundo over to third, and he then scored on a wild pitch. After the Blazers recorded their second out of the inning, Ben Houghton hit a solo shot over the left field fence to give Alvernia the 3-0 lead.
• The Blazers came firing back in the top of the fifth, scoring three runs with two outs to even the game at 3-3. Hood's first two runs came on a bases loaded single up the middle. The Blazers then evened it at 3-3 with a single that dropped just shy of Esannason in right field.
• Alvernia retook the lead in its half of the fifth. Garrett Hunter led off the inning with a hit by pitch and progressed to third base on the at-bats of Logan Nelson and Evan Thomas. Hunter then scored on a failed attempt by the Blazers to turn two to give Alvernia the 4-3 lead heading into the sixth. 
• The Golden Wolves had an opportunity to build up its lead in the bottom of the sixth with the bases loaded and only one out, but the Blazers got out of the jam on a shallow fly out and a strikeout.  
• The back-and-forth continued in the top of the seventh. Hood tied the game at 4-4 on a two-out single to center, and then took the lead, 5-4, on a wild pitch with a runner on third.
• Alvernia had another opportunity to take the lead in the seventh, but Hood's left fielder made a fantastic diving catch on the warning track to keep the Blazers in front, 5-4.
• The Golden Wolves had a runner in scoring position in the eighth, and this time they were able to convert. Bobby Hansen led off the inning with a double to the left gap, and came around to score on a Hunter single up the middle. Things then went off the rails for the Blazers on an Evan Thomas bunt with Logan Nelson on first and Luke Jones on second. Thomas laid down a bunt along the third base line. The ball was thrown away from the first baseman, allowing each runner another bag - including Nelson gunning for home. Hood attempted a play at him at the plate, and threw it into the Alvernia dugout to allow Jones to score as well to give Alvernia the 7-5 lead.
• Brad Coley came into close the game for the Golden Wolves in the top of the ninth and went three up and three down, including two strikeouts for the final two outs as Alvernia downed the Blazers, 7-5.

Alvernia Offensive Leaders
Mike Ramundo: 3-for-5, 1 run scored, 1 stolen base
Garrett Hunter: 2-for-3, 1 run, 1 RBI
Quincy Esannason: 1-for-4, 2 RBI

Alvernia Defensive Leaders
Quincy Esannason: 6 putouts, 0 errors
Mike Ramundo: 3 putouts, 3 assists, 0 errors
Bobby Hansen: 2 putouts, 2 assists, 0 errors

Alvernia Pitching
Nick Ferraioli: 5 IP, 6 Hits, 3 Earned Runs, 3 Walks, 1 Strikeout, 24 Batters Faced
Jake Umans: 1.1 IP, 2 Earned Runs, 0 Walks, 1 Strikeout, 7 Batters Faced
Ronald Kopcho (W): 1.2 IP, 1 Hit, 0 Earned Runs, 0 Walks, 1 Strikeouts, 6 Batters Faced
Brad Coley (S): 1 IP: 0 Hits, 0 Earned Runs, 0 Walks, 2 Strikeouts, 3 Batters Faced

Up Next
Alvernia will take on the winner of the #4 York vs. #1 Messiah series in the MAC Commonwealth Championship next weekend. That series is tied at 1-1 with the decisive game three scheduled for Monday following a weather postponement today.