Center Valley, Pa. (April 14, 2026) - Alvernia University (13-17) went 1-1 against DeSales University (12-15) on Tuesday night in a non-conference softball doubleheader at DeSales.

The Bulldogs walked off a back and forth game one, scoring the game-winning run on an infield single to take the 10-9 win. Alvernia jumped out to a 7-0 lead through the second inning of game two, and held off the Bulldogs the rest of the way for the 7-5 win and doubleheader split. 

Game One: DeSales 10, Alvernia 9

How it Happened

• DeSales took an early 2-0 lead, plating two runs in the bottom of the first. The Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead on a bases loaded walk, and followed with a fielder's choice at third that saw a base runner score for the 2-0 lead.
• Alvernia answered back and evened the game at 2-2 in the top of the second. Savannah Richards reached on a bunt for a hit with one out on the board. After Richards stole second, Nina Viola joined her on base via a walk. Both advanced a bag on a wild pitch. An Alexia Fitzgerald singled through the left side evened the game at 2-2 as both Richards and Viola came home to score.
• The Bulldogs broke the 2-2 tie in the bottom of the third, scoring two runs on a single down the left field line to take a 4-2 lead. DeSales then made it a 5-2 game in the bottom of the fourth, scoring a run on a single back to the pitcher.
• Alvernia answered back with a six spot in the fifth. Lauren Jascewsky led off the inning with a single to right, and advanced to third on a double down the left field line by Meryn Bellacima. Jascewsky came home on an error on the at-bat of Richards. Both Bellacima and Richards made their way to second and third respectively, and came around to score on another DeSales error on the at bat of Ava Rudolph. Alvernia then evened the game at 5-5 on a single by Kaili Bunnell to score Rudolph. 
• The Golden Wolves kept it rolling in the fifth. An infield single by Fitzgerald scored Rudolph to give Alvernia the 6-5 lead. A two-RBI single by Taylor McClain to score Fitzgerald and Bunnell capped off the inning as Alvernia took the 8-5 lead going into the bottom of the fifth.
• Alvernia's three run lead did not last long as DeSales evened the game at 8-8 in the home half of the fifth. The Bulldogs got their first run of the inning back after stealing home, and made it a one-run game, 8-7, on a single to right. DeSales evened the game on a fielding error that allowed a run from second to score to tie the game at 8-8. 
• DeSales retook the lead, 9-8 in the bottom of the sixth following a lead off double, a bunt, and a sacrifice fly. The back and forth continued as Alvernia tied the game in the top of the seventh. Alexa Ullrich led off the inning with a single to center. Abigale Millhouse pinch ran for Ullrich and made her way to third following a sacrifice bunt by Sydney Teufel and a single by Bunnell. A sacrifice fly by Fitzgerald drove in Millhouse and tied the game at 9-9. Alvernia stranded two as the game moved into the bottom of the seventh tied at 9-9.
• The Bulldogs led off the seventh with a single to first base. After that runner stole second and third, DeSales walked the game off with a high-hop single to short stop that allowed the game-winning run to score.

Alvernia Hitting

• Alexia Fitzgerald: 3-for-4, 4 RBIs, 1 Run, 1 SB
• Taylor McClain: 2-for-4, 2 RBIs, 1 BB
• Savannah Richards: 2-for-3, 1 RBI, 2 Runs

Alvernia Pitching

• Natalie Berwick: 3.1 IP, 7 Hits, 5 Runs, 4 Earned, 2 BB, 0 SO, 20 BF
• Kelsey Racine (L, 4-8): 3 IP, 7 Hits, 5 Runs, 4 Earned, 0 BB, 0 SO, 17 BF

Game Two: Alvernia 7, DeSales 5

How it Happened

• Alvernia jumped out to a 4-0 lead early, plating four runs on five hits. Alexia Fitzgerald led off the game with a double to the right gap and came home to score on a Taylor McClain single to left. Lauren Jascewsky joined McClain on base with a single down the right field line. Both Jascewsky and McClain scored on a double to the right gap by Meryn Bellacima to give Alvernia the 3-0 lead. A groundout by Savannah Richards drove in Bellacima and gave Alvernia the 4-0 lead going into the bottom of the first.
• Alvernia tacked on another three runs in the top of the second to take the early 7-0 lead. Kalli Bunnell led off the inning with a single to center, and Fitzgerald walked to put two runners on for McClain. McClain stepped up and doubled to left to score Fitzgerald and Bunnell. Later in the inning with two outs on the board, Angelina Sponheimer drove in McClain on a single through the left side to give Alvernia the 7-0 lead.
• The Bulldogs cut into Alvernia's lead in the bottom of the fourth, plating three runs to get within four, 7-3. DeSales led off the inning reaching on a hit by pitch. DeSales' Abigayle Freideman put the Bulldogs on the board with a two-run homer over the right center wall. DeSales put runners on the corners later in the inning, and scored on a fielder's choice to make it a 7-3 game.
• DeSales got within two in the bottom of the fifth. DeSales led off the inning with back-to-back walks. Freideman drove in another run for DeSales on a single through the left side. After loading the bases, the Bulldogs capped off the inning and got within two, 7-5, on a groundout to the pitcher that allowed a run to score.
• Alvernia looked to add some breathing room in the top of the seventh. The Golden Wolves loaded the bases without an out on the board. But, the Bulldogs got out of the jam without allowing a run. The Golden Wolves would not need any breathing room as Kelsey Racine went three up, three down in the circle as Alvernia took the 7-5 win and the doubleheader split. Racine did not allow a hit in two and a thirds innings of relief work.

Alvernia Hitting

• Alexia Fitzgerald: 3-for-3, 1 2B, 2 Runs, 1 Walk
• Taylor McClain:: 2-for-3, 3 RBIs, 2 Runs, 2 Walks
• Meryn Bellacima: 2-for-5, 1 2B, 2 RBIs, 1 Run

Alvernia Pitching

• Madison Velez (2-1): 4 IP, 5 Runs, 5 Earned, 3 BB, 1 SO, 21 BF
• Ryann Healey: 0.2 IP, 1 Hit, 0 Runs, 0 Earned, 2 BB, 1 SO, 5 BF
• Kelsey Racine (S, 2): 2.1 IP, 0 Hits, 0 Runs, 0 Earned, 0 BB, 2 SO, 7 BF

Up Next

• Alvernia is back on the road on Thursday for a non-conference doubleheader at Dickinson.