Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 READING, Pa. – The Arcadia University softball team split a pair of games at Commonwealth Conference rival Alvernia University Saturday, winning game-one 4-1 before falling in game-two 7-1. The Knights are now 6-14 for the season and 3-5 on conference play, while the Crusaders' record moved to 11-7 overall and 3-3 in conference play.

In game one, seven Knights recorded hits with senior Jessica Wood (Columbus, N.J.) and sophomore Alicia McMahon (Bel Air, Md.) leading the offense with three hits apiece. Sophomores Nicole Larro (Cedarville, N.J.) and Sarah Gunia (East Brunswick, N.J.) each then had multi-hit games in the night cap.

Game 1: Arcadia 4, Alvernia 1

The Knights struck first in the ballgame in their very first at-bats to give Arcadia an early 1-0 lead after the top of the first. Junior Jessica Shotwell (Winsted, CT) led off the game by singling to left field and Larro advanced her to second by way of a sacrifice bunt. Shotwell was then able to score the first run of the game after a two-out RBI single from Wood.

Arcadia extended their lead to two in the third after Larro led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from classmate Sara Boyadjis (Cedar Knolls, N.J.). Then because of a throwing error from Alvernia's catcher on a stolen base attempt from Larro, she was able to come across home plate.

In the fifth inning, the Knights were able to add two more insurance runs. McMahon singled to right center to score Boyadjis and sophomore Natalie O'Reilly (Honesdale, Pa.) produced a two-out single to plate Wood and give Arcadia a four run lead.

Sophomore pitcher Erin Wilson (Bethlehem, Pa.) dominated on the mound and was one out away from throwing a shutout, but a fielding error in the bottom of the seventh brought home the Crusaders' only run of the game.

Wilson improved her record to 4-6 on the year after the complete game win. In her seven innings of work, she gave up only one run, scattering seven hits and a walk while striking out six.

For the Crusaders, junior Brittanie Wolfe (Pine Grove, Pa.) suffered the loss in 4.2 innings of work, dropping her record to 6-5, after surrendering all four runs on ten hits and two walks and recording one strikeout.

Game 2: Arcadia 1, Alvernia 7

Once again the Knights struck first in the first frame, but that would be their only run of the contest. Shotwell led off the game in the same fashion as the first, reaching first by way of a single. In the next at-bat, Larro reached base because of a fielding error, which also advanced Shotwell to second and both would then move up a base after a groundout from Boyadjis. Wood pushed across Arcadia's only run after a fielder's choice was able to plate Shotwell.

The Crusaders would eventually tie the game in the bottom half of the third after an RBI single from freshman Alexa Banks (Langhorne, Pa.) scored senior Samantha Penk (Lincroft, N.J.).

The game was relatively silent on the offensive side until Alvernia exploded offensively in the bottom of the sixth inning to put six runs up on the board and put the game out of reach for the Knights. The Crusaders strung together five hits in the frame after the inning was extended due to two fielding errors. The inning should have ended without any damage for the Knights, but Alvernia took advantage and made the Knights pay with all six runs being unearned.

Freshman Taylor Thomas (Williamstown, N.J.), junior Brianna Kuhn (Elizabethtown, Pa.), Penk, and senior Katie Manowski (Grasonville, Md.) all recorded RBI hits for the Crusaders in sixth with Kuhn and Penk recording back-to-back doubles.

The six run lead was too much for the Knights and were shut down in the seventh to end the game.

Despite giving up seven unearned runs in the game, Gunia took the loss for Arcadia, dropping her record to 2-7 on the year. The sophomore gave up seven hits and a walk while recording two strikeouts in 5.2 innings on the mound.

Freshman Brianna Fisher (Erial, N.J.) was credited with the win for Alvernia after going the distance and only allowing one hit on eight hits, a walk, and one strikeout. The win improves her record to 2-0 for the season.

Larro finished the day with four hits after going 4-for-7 at the plate with a run scored. Wood finished game one a perfect 3-for-3 while recording an RBI and scoring a run.

Gunia and McMahon both combined for seven base hits between the two games after Gunia going 3-for-6 on the day and McMahon going 4-for-7 and recording an RBI.

The Knights will look to get back to .500 in the Commonwealth Conference tomorrow when they host conference foe Stevenson University at Blankley Field for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.