COLLEGE PARK, Md. - A seventh-inning rally in game one and a five-run first inning in game two led defending Commonwealth Conference champion Alvernia to a sweep of the Stevenson softball team Sunday at the University of Maryland's Robert E. Taylor Stadium in the conference opener for both teams.

Stevenson (4-6, 0-2 MAC) was led by sophomore Stephanie Ayres (Upper Marlboro, Md./Bishop McNamara) who went a combined 4-for-6 with four RBIs.

After falling behind 2-0 in the top of the first of game one on a two-run double by the Crusaders' Amanda Galanti, the Mustangs quickly responded with two runs in the bottom of the second on RBI-singles by Ayres and junior Brianna Dieter (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown).

Neither team could break the tie over the next three innings before Stevenson finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth on an Ayres' second RBI-single of the game that scored junior Kristen Fassler (Owings Mills, Md./Western Tech) to give the Mustangs a 3-2 advantage.

However, Alvernia (10-2, 2-0 MAC) answered with a another two-run double in the top of the seventh, this time from Miranda Peto with two outs, to go back in front, 4-3.

Stevenson threatened to tie the game in bottom of the seventh after Dieter hit a lead-off single and was sacrificed into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Abbey DeFeo (Columbia, Md./River Hill). Dieter then moved to third on a wild pitch with two outs, but the Mustangs could not bring her home as freshman Tiffany Kahl (Glen Burnie, Md./Seton Keough) flied out to center to end the game.

Ayres finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs while Dieter was 2-for-3 with one run batted in.

Sophomore Briana Pichalski (Port Reading, N.J./Woodbridge) lost for the fourth time in five starts this season, allowing just three earned runs on five hits over 7.0 innings while striking out five. Meanwhile, Brittanie Wolfe got the win after surrendering three runs on seven hits over 7.0 innings.

In game two, the Crusaders took a five-run lead in the top of the first on five hits, two of which were two-run singles by Rachel Fritz and Aly Shilling. They added two more runs in the top of the second before Stevenson got on the board in the bottom of the second on an RBI-single by Kahl.

Alvernia stretched its six-run lead to 9-1 in the top of the third on a two-run homer to left by Samantha Penk.

The Mustangs added their second run on an RBI-single by Dieter in the bottom of the third before cutting their deficit to 9-4 on a two-run double by Ayres in the bottom of the fourth.

However, the Crusaders added three more runs in the fifth to increase their lead to eight before holding Stevenson scoreless in the bottom of the inning to earn the sweep.

Ayres went 2-for-3 with two RBIs for the second-straight game while Kahl was 2-for-3 with one RBI. Dieter was 1-for-3 with one run batted in.

Inside the circle, Alvernia's Deanna Dungee improved her record to 6-0 this season after allowed four runs and 10 hits over 5.0 innings. Freshman Molly Hoyt (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany Hills) suffered the loss for the Mustangs after surrendering five runs on four hits in the top of the first.

Stevenson returns to action on Tuesday when it hosts Wilson College at Maryland's Robert E. Taylor Stadium beginning at 3:00 p.m.