Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
READING, Pa. - Led by Chuck Krichling's seven hits, six RBI, and two runs scored, the visiting Crusaders of Alvernia University (17-5/6-3 CC) swept the host Lions (5-15/2-7 CC) in a Commonwealth Conference doubleheader by the final scores of 10-2 and 5-4 Monday afternoon at Kelchner Field.
Not only did Monday's wins help the Crusaders climb the conference standings, but it also marked the 600th and 601st career coaching wins for Alvernia head coach Yogi Lutz, who is currently in his 24th season.
For Albright the series sweep by Alvernia, pushes their postseason dreams a little farther away, with only three weeks left in the regular season. The Lions will need to turn it around very quickly, if they are to have a chance at this year's conference tournament.
To date, Albright still has three more conference opponents left on their schedule, including the defending conference tournament champions Elizabethtown College.
Through the first three innings of game one the two teams were evenly matched and deadlocked at 1-1. However in the fourth, the Crusaders jumped all over the Lions scoring six runs to take a 7-1 lead. The Lions then made it a five run game in the bottom half of the fourth on an RBI single by Jon Raymond.
After a scoreless fifth, Alvernia put up another run in the sixth, and two more in the seventh to seal the win. Raymond closed out game one with a pair of hits, while Jojo Fischer, Tommy Canuso, Patrick Brady, and Shane Stein each made contact once.
Sophomore lefty Tyler Storms was handed the loss after giving up seven runs, four of which were earned, on eight hits in four complete innings of action. Chuck Nicholas picked up his fourth win of the season in the opener, after giving up just the two runs on six hits in seven innings of work.
The nightcap was a much different contest for the Lions, as they managed to comeback from a three-run deficit to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth inning.
With Brady and Casey Lawrence both getting singles to lead off the fifth, Albright loaded the bases after Canuso was hit by a pitch. Fischer then gave the Lions the boost they were looking for as he drove in both Brady and Lawrence on a two run single, and advanced Canuso to second.
Looking to make something happen, Canuso quickly advanced to third on a Raymond fielder's choice, but it was an error on Alvernia that allowed the sophomore first baseman to touch home plate and even the score at 4-4.
After a double-play to close out the fifth, neither team produced any offense in the sixth. In the top half of the seventh despite having two outs against them, the Crusaders managed to battle through and score the go ahead run before the Lions could end the inning.
Needing another huge inning, Canuso got things going after reaching first on an error by the shortstop. Kyle McGee, who pinched ran for Canuso quickly moved into scoring position after a double by Raymond to left field.
With runners on second and third, Alvernia almost gave away the tying run on a wild pitch. Deciding to hold the runners where they were, the Lions looked to Rob Mancinelli to drive in the game tying run. Mancinelli did manage to make contact but it was not enough as he grounded out to third base to end the game.
Kevin Butler who came in the bottom of the sixth inning was handed the loss in his 1 1/3 outing. Austin Rohrbach who also went 1 1/3 on the hill claimed his first win of the season.
Baseball returns to action on Wednesday when they host Moravian College at 3:30 p.m. on Kelchner Field.
