Reading, Pa (March 15, 2025) - Alvernia University (7-8, 0-3) dropped both games of a MAC Commonwealth baseball doubleheader to Messiah University (7-7, 3-0) Saturday afternoon in Angelica Park. 

The Falcons took game one of the doubleheader 2-1 and then dropped the second game by a score of 11-8 as the Falcons secured the series sweep of Alvernia. 

Game 1: Messiah: 2, Alvernia: 1

How it Happened 

• Alvernia starter Nick Ferraioli and Messiah's Christian Foltz were both dealing through the first three and a half innings with both players not allowing a hit and there were just two baserunners through the first three innings. 
• The Golden Wolves then struck first in the home half of the fourth inning after Jake Chapman laced a double down the right field line. Chapman was then moved over to third after a Logan Nelson sacrifice bunt and was then able to score after Evan Thomas grounded out to shortstop up the middle and gave the Golden Wolves a 1-0 lead. 
•  The Falcons responded with two runs in the top half of the fifth inning after an RBI single and a pass ball allowed a run to score and give Messiah a 2-1 advantage. 
• The Golden Wolves had a chance to tie the ballgame in the bottom of the seventh and had the bases loaded with one out down 2-1 but the Falcons got a ground ball 643 double play to end the game and secure the 2-1 victory in game one. 

Alvernia Pitching: 

• Nick Ferraioli (L, 1-2) - 5 IP, 2 H, 2 R, ER, 2 BB, 5 K
• Matt Mays: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB

Alvernia Offensive Leaders: 

• Jake Chapman: 1-2, 2B, RS
• Evan Thomas: 1-3, RBI

Game 2: Messiah: 11, Alvernia: 8

How it Happened

• Messiah jumped on the board first in the top of the first inning after a leadoff triple and then an RBI single put the Falcons up 1-0. 
• Alvernia responded with four runs in the home half of the third inning with four runs to take the 4-1 lead. Jake Chapman started things off with an RBI double to right field and then Chapman scored on an RBI single by Logan Nelson to make it a 2-1 game. Jack Zabarsky then ripped a two RBI double to right and made it a 4-1 Alvernia lead. 
• The Falcons bounced back with a seven run fourth inning to flip the script and take the 8-4 lead over the Golden Wolves. 
• Jack Zabarsky responded for the Golden Wolves with another two RBI single into right field to score Nelson and Chapman and pull Alvernia within two, 8-6. 
• Both teams went scoreless in the next three innings before Messiah broke it open in the top of the ninth after a Luke Ott three run homer to right field made it an 11-6 Messiah lead. 
• The Golden Wolves pulled two back in the home half of the ninth inning when Timmy Hitchcock ripped an RBI double to right to score Nelson and Zabarsky was able to score on the throw but it was not enough as the Falcons secured the 11-8 victory and the series sweep. 

Alvernia Pitching:

• Evan Thomas: 2 IP, 3 H, R, ER, 0 BB, 3 K
• Ronald Kopcho: (L, 1-1) - 6 H, 7 R, 6 ER, BB
• Josh Kreider: 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, K

Alvernia Offensive Leaders: 

• Jack Zabarsky: 3-5, 2B, 4 RBI, RS, SB
• Jake Chapman: 3-5, 2B, 2 RS, RBI, SB
• Logan Nelson: 3-5, 3 RS, RBI, SB
• Timmy Hitchcock: 1-4, 2B, RBI, BB

Up Next 

• Alvernia is back in action on Wednesday when they travel to New Jersey City to take on NJCU in a non-conference mid-week matchup against the Gothic Knights at 3:30 PM.