Clermont, Florida (Mar. 1, 2026) - Alvernia University (2-0) opened its 2026 season with a sweep of on the first day of its spring break trip in Florida. Alvernia opened the day with a 4-3 win over Johnson and Wales University and followed that with a 3-2 win over John Jay College

Game One
Score: Alvernia 4, Johnson and Wales 3
Records: Alvernia (1-0), JWU (0-1)
Hits: Alvernia 5, JWU 6
Errors: Alvernia 2, JWU 0
WP: Ryann Healey (1-0), LP: Brianna Gilhardi (0-1), S: Natalie Berwick (1)

How it Happened

After getting no-hit through the first three innings, Alvernia broke things open in the top of fourth. Ryan Healey led off the inning with a double to left field and advanced to third on a Meryn Bellacima single. Healey then scored on a wild pitch with Bellacima advancing to second.

Savannah Richards then made it a 2-0 game on an infield ground out to score Bellacima. An Ava Rudolph walk and Kalli Bunnell single loaded the bases, and an Alexia Fitzgerald bases loaded walk drove in Angelina Sponheimer to make it a 3-0 game. Alvernia capped off the inning with Rudolph scoring on a lineout off the bat of Summer Montgomery.

The Golden Wolves held JWU off the board until the bottom of the fifth. After getting runners on via a hit by pitch and a walk, JWU drove in two runs on a single into the right gap to cut Alvernia's lead in half, 4-2.

Alvernia stranded runners in both the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings, and JWU threatened Alvernia's two-run lead in the bottom half of the seventh. JWU had two on with one out in the bottom of the seventh. Alvernia forced a groundout to get the second out of the inning, but a run came in and scored to make it a one run game, 4-3. But, Alvernia forced a pop out to end the threat and end the game with a 4-3 win. 

Ryann Healey picked up the win in the circle, and Natalie Berwick earned the save in relief.

Alvernia Offensive Leaders
Meryn Bellacima: 2-for-4, 1 Run
Summer Montgomery: 1-for-3, 1 RBI
Ryann Healey: 1-for-3, 1 2B, 1 Run

Alvernia Pitching
Ryann Healey: 4.1 IP, 3 Hits, 2 Runs, 2 ER, 2 Walks, 1 SO
Natalie Berwick: 2.2 IP, 3 Hits, 1 Run, 0 ER, 0 Walks, 1 SO

Game Two
Score: Alvernia 3, John Jay 2
Records: Alvernia (2-0), John Jay (0-3)
Hits: Alvernia 5,  John Jay 5
Errors: Alvernia 2, John Jay 1
WP: Kelsey Racine (1-0), LP: Lindsay Ogden (0-1), S: Natalie Berwick (2)

How it Happened
Alvernia put two runners on to lead off the game and loaded the bases with two outs, but Alvernia could not capitalize on the early scoring opportunity. John Jay answered with two runners on early in the top of the second, but Alvernia got out of the jam with a strike out and infield pop out to keep the game at 0-0.

The Golden Wolves got on the board in the bottom of the third. Alexia Fitzgerald led off the inning with a single to left field and stole second on the following at-bat. Alvernia then put two on with Taylor McClain reaching on an error. Ryann Healey cleared the bases with a triple to right center to give Alvernia the 2- lead going into the fourth.

After a scoreless fifth and sixth inning, Alvernia tacked on a run in the bottom of the sixth. Savannah Richards got on base with a bunt for a base hit before stealing second and moving to third on a wild pitch. She then came around to score on a ground out by Lizzy Williams to give Alvernia the 3-0 lead.

Alvernia's three run advantage was threatened in the top of the seventh. John Jay loaded the bases with one out to start the threat. Alvernia held the Bloodhounds at bay by forcing a lineout to put two outs on the board. But, Alvernia walked back-to-back batters to bring in two runs and cut the lead down to one, 3-2. Alvernia then ended the threat with a strikeout by Natalie Berwick in relief as the third pitcher of the contest.

Alvernia Offensive Leaders
Alexia Fitzgerald: 2-for-4, 1 Run
Ryann Healey: 1-for-3, 1 3B, 2 RBI

Alvernia Pitching
Kelsey Racine: 6.1 IP, 2 Runs, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BB, 3 SO
Madison Velez: 0.0 IP, 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 2 Walks
Natalie Berwick: 0.1 IP, 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 HBP, 0 BB

Up Next
Alvernia is back in action on Monday for day of its spring break trip to Florida. Alvernia will face Wartburg College at 12:15 PM, followed by Allegheny College at 2:30 PM