GLENSIDE, Pa. – The Arcadia University softball team split a Commonwealth Conference doubleheader at Blankley Field with Alvernia University Saturday afternoon, losing game-one by a score of 4-2 and winning game-two by a score of 5-4. The Knights moved their record to 16-22 overall on the year and 5-11 in conference play, while the visiting Crusaders moved to 16-15-1 overall and 7-9 in conference.

Game One: Alvernia 4, Arcadia 2

Alvernia jumped out to an early lead in the first half inning of the game after taking advantage of a defensive miscue from Arcadia. After reaching on a fielding error, the Crusaders pushed across the first run of the game after a two-out double to right center.

The Crusaders then tacked on another run in the third inning after another misplayed ball with two outs put a runner on first and once again Alvernia hit a two-out double to give them a 2-0 lead. In the sixth inning, the Crusaders scored their final two runs after a lead-off hit by pitch followed by a successful sacrifice bunt put a runner in scoring position and a single then a one-out double plated the two runners and give Alvernia 4-0 advantage.

The Knights' offense struggled offensively for the first six innings but rallied in the seventh and final inning. Junior Sarah Gunia led the inning off with a ground-rule double and a bunt single from freshman Amanda Hess, which she beat out but an overthrow from the catcher allowed Gunia to score and Hess to advance to second. Hess then advanced to third by way of a sacrifice bunt from junior Nikki Larro and after a lineout, junior Erin Wilson kept the inning alive for the Knights with a two-out single to left field to score Hess and cut the deficit to two. That is as close as Arcadia would get, however, as a pop out ended the rally and also the game.

Wilson took the loss for the Knights and fell to 6-12 on the year after pitching all seven innings but allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits, no walks and striking out six. For Alvernia, freshman Taylor Fouracre improved to 9-5 on the year after tossing the complete game and giving up just the two runs on four hits.

Game Two: Alvernia 4, Arcadia 5

After a scoreless top half of the first, Arcadia got right to work in the bottom half taking an early 2-0 lead. Gunia drew a one-out walk and back-to-back doubles from Hess and Larro scored Gunia and Hess.
Alvernia responded in the third inning after a one-out triple and a two-out single scored their first run of the game. Senior Shannon Grim then homered to left center and gave the Crusaders their first lead of the game at 3-2.

The Knights, however, knotted the game at three in the bottom half after Gunia started off with a one-out single up the middle and was able to advance to third thanks to a wild pitch and a stolen base. Hess then drove her home on a sacrifice fly.  

The game remained tied until Arcadia broke through in the fifth inning. Junior Sara Boyadjis led the Knights off with a single and after a strikeout, four consecutive singles from Gunia, Hess, Larro, and junior Alicia McMahon pushed across two runs for Arcadia and gave them a 5-3. This would be just enough for the Knights as the Crusaders would respond with a run of their own in the top of the sixth.

Sophomore Laura Christine held off Alvernia for the complete-game win and improved her record to 8-7. In the seven innings, she allowed four runs on eight hits and a walk, while also recording a strikeout. For the Crusaders, fellow sophomore Brianna Fisher took the loss and fell to 5-7 on the year after going 4.2 innings and allowing five runs on eight hits, two walks and two hit batters.

Hess, Gunia, and Larro led the Knights offensively with each of them having two hits apiece. Hess finished the game 2-2 with three RBIs and a run scored, while Gunia was also 2-2 with a walk and three runs scored, and Larro finished 2-3 at the plate with two RBIs.