The good news is that the Eastern University pitching staff will not have to face Alvernia hitters in any more games in the regular season. The bad news is that the Crusaders roughed up the Eagle pitchers for 42 runs in in sweeping the three-game series. The Eagles are still very much alive in the PAC playoff race with two big series coming up.

Paul Sinclair went six innings in the opener and held the host Crusaders to ten hits, but three runs in the second and three runs in the third gave Alvernia the all the offense they would need for the first game victory. Sean Ciletti had an RBI triple in the fifth and then scored on a ground out to cut the deficit to 6-2.

Davis Murray tripled to lead off the sixth. He then scored on an Andrew Reynolds sacrifice fly, but the Eastern bats could not generate any more serious chances and the Crusaders picked up two in the bottom of the sixth to win 8-3.

Eastern scored a run without the benefit of a hit to start game two. Alvernia countered with five runs in the bottom of the second inning to claim a 5-1 lead. The Eagles manufactured another run in the top of the third as Kurt Kebaugh scored his second run of the game on a wild pitch.

The Eastern bats could not generate another hit the rest of the way. Brian Miller kept the Alvernia offense in check as the game went all the way to the bottom of the sixth at 5-2. The Crusader bats, however, came to life with a nine run sixth for a 14-2 final margin.

Eastern returns to action Monday with an important home doubleheader against Centenary. At 5-6 in the PAC, the Eagles will need to win the remaining two series against Centenary and Marywood to earn a spot in the four team Conference playoffs.

Box Score

Box Score