Reading, Pa. (April 1, 2025) - After dropping the first game of the afternoon, Alvernia University (14-12) grabbed game two, 5-4, over Misericordia University (20-6) in come-from-behind, walk-off fashion on Tuesday afternoon in non-conference softball action at Alvernia. 

The Golden Wolves trailed game two, 2-0, from the jump. After tying the game at 2-2 in the third, Alvernia then held Misericordia scoreless until the seventh inning. The Cougars broke the tie in the top of the seventh, but Alvernia tied it right back up in the bottom of the seventh. Summer Montgomery then drove in the game-winning run in the eighth for the 5-4 win. 

Game One: Misericordia 5, Alvernia 3
Hits: Misericordia 8, Alvernia 5
Errors: Misericordia 2, Alvernia 1
WP: Gabby Gruz (5-0) LP: Kelsey Racine (5-4)

How it Happened

• Misericordia had two on with no one out in the top of the first, but, Alvernia's defense behind pitcher Natalie Berwick was able to get out of the jam to prevent the earlier Misericordia lead.
• The Golden Wolves got on the board in their half of the first. Alexia Fitzgerald led off the inning on a walk and progressed to third base later in the inning. She then scored on an RBI single by Brooke Hauck for the early 1-0 lead. Alvernia tacked onto its lead with an RBI double to deep left by Taylor McClain to drive in Angelina Sponheimer for the 2-0 lead.
• The Cougars loaded the bases with one out in the top of the second, but Berwick forced a flyout and a lineout to get out of the jam.
• After neither team could get anything going in the third and fourth, Misericordia threatened Alvernia's lead in the fifth. The Cougars had two on base, and a single to shallow center scored Misericordia's first run of the day. The Cougars then hit a three-run homer to left field to take the 4-2 lead.
• The Golden Wolves got a run back in the sixth inning, with Hauck scoring on a single by Summer Montgomery to get Alvernia within one, 4-3. But, Misericorida pushed it back to a two-run game in the top of the seventh on a solo homer to center field. Alvernia did not put a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh as Misericordia took the 5-3 win.

Alvernia Offensive Leaders
Brooke Hauck: 2-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 Run
Alexia Fitzgerald: 1-for-3,1 Run, 1 Walk, 1 SB

Alvernia Pitching
Natalie Berwick: 4 IP, 5 Hits, 2 Runs, 2 ER, 3 Walks, 6 Strikeouts
Kelsey Racine: 3 IP, 3 Hits, 3 Runs, 3 ER, 0 Walks, 1 Strikeout

Game Two: Alvernia 5, Misericordia 4 (8 inn.)
Hits: Alvernia 11, Misericordia 8
Errors: Alvernia 1, Misericordia 1
WP: Ashlyn Hillanbrand (4-5) LP: Morgan Kelly (2-2)

How it Happened

• The Cougars took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first, scoring two runs on a two-out triple that landed just fair along the right field line. Alvernia threatened to get a run back in the bottom of the first. Fitzgerald was on second base with two outs after a leadoff single to right. She was running on the crack of the bat of Sponheimer at the plate. Sponheimer sent a well hit ball to center field, but Misericordia was able to make the play to keep Alvernia off the board and end the inning.
• Lexi Fitzgerald and Summer Montgomery led off the bottom of the third with back-to-back- singles to put two on with no one out. While Montgomery was thrown out on a fielder's choice during the at bat of Hauck, Fitzgerald moved over to third with one out. She then stole home on a first and third for Alvernia to give the Golden Wolves the 2-1 lead. Alvernia then loaded the bases back up with two outs later in the inning. Alvernia tied the game at 2-2 on a bases-loaded walk by Gianna Ordanoff. Misericordia got out of the inning on the next at-bat to move the game into the fourth tied at 2-2.
• The game remained tied at 2-2 until the top of the seventh when Misericordia broke the tie. The Cougars scored the go-ahead run on an error at third that allowed the runner to advance and score.
• Alvernia answered in its half of the seventh, and also scored on an error at third to tie the game at 3-3. Brooke Hauck led off the inning with a double to deep center. She advanced to third on a groundout back to the pitcher by Taylor McClain, marking the second out of the inning. Mikayla Eckman then came in for a pinch-hit opportunity and hit a ball back at third. The third baseman couldn't field it cleanly, allowing Eckman to reach safely and prevent the third out and allowing Hauck to come home to score for the game-tying run.
• Misericordia wasted no time getting its tie-breaker runner home in the top of the eighth, as the Cougars drove in the runner on second on a leadoff double down the left field line. Alvernia prevented any additional damage, getting out of the inning on a double play.
• Gianna Ordanoff was placed on second for Alvernia to start the bottom of the eighth. She advanced to third on a passed ball, and scored on a Payton Splain double to left field to tie the game at 4-4. With two outs later in the inning, Summer Montgomery came up to bat with Splain still on second. Montgomery hit a single to the left gap to drive in Splain and give Alvernia the walk-off win, 5-4.

Alvernia Offensive Leaders
Summer Montgomery: 3-for-5, 1 RBI
Brooke Hauck: 1-for-4, 2 Runs, 1 Double
Payton Splain: 1-for-3, 1 Run, 1 RBI, 1 Double

Alvernia Pitching
Ashlyn Hillanbrand: 8 IP, 8 Hits, 4 Runs, 2 ER, 2 Walks, 3 Strikeouts

Up Next
Alvernia returns to MAC Commonwealth play on Saturday. The Golden Wolves will head to Eastern to take on the Eagles. Eastern enters Saturday undefeated in MAC Commonwealth play.