Box Score READING, Pa. – Stevenson University scored a pair of runs in the top of the ninth to take a 4-3 lead, but host Alvernia University forced extra innings with a run in the bottom of the ninth and posted a 5-4, 10-inning MAC Commonwealth baseball victory at Angelica Park Friday afternoon.
Stevenson (7-9, 0-1 MAC Commonwealth) loaded the bases with no one out in the top of the ninth trailing 3-2. Sophomore Jake Hall was hit by a pitch, followed by a single to right by classmate Jake Dimon. Sophomore John D'Aquanno attempted to lay down a sac bunt, but his attempt was thrown away by Alvernia (7-6, 1-0) pitcher Evan Young to load the bases.
Another error, this one a missed catch by the first baseman on what should have been a groundout by senior Ian Eberly, allowed Hall to score the tying run. Dimon scored the go-ahead run when senior Kevin Wu grounded into a double play.
Alvernia plated the tying run in the bottom of the ninth with two out. John Catchmark singled to lead off the inning, and was replaced by pinch runner Shakore Bragg-Taylor. Bragg-Taylor scored on a two-out single by Ian Shaffer.
In the top of the 10th, junior Kevin Kopas led off with a single, but a flyout, a lineout and a groundout didn't allow the Mustangs to piece anything together. A two-out single by Matt Alpaugh brought home the winning run for Alvernia, scoring Chris Burns, who worked a one-out walk and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch.
Alvernia registered four hits, including a two-run double by Mike Cunningham, to take a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second. The Mustangs posted single runs in the third and fourth frames to pull within 3-2.
In the third, Dimon reached on a leadoff double and scored when Eberly grounded into a double play. Kopas scored in the fourth after leading off with a single, eventually coming home on another Alvernia error, one of five for the Crusaders in the game.
Stevenson starter, senior Alec Romanowski, went the first 7.2 innings and scattered 10 hits while striking out four and not issuing a walk. Senior Trevor Fitzsimmons took over to start the ninth and took the loss for the Mustangs.
Kopas and Dimon each had two hits for Stevenson, as it was outhit 13-8, while Eberly extended his hit streak to seven games.
Stevenson hosts Alvernia for a noon doubleheader on Saturday at Sugar Field to complete the three-game season series.
