Fort Myers, FL – In the Mariners second game of the Gene Cusic Classic, Alvernia University scored seven unearned runs en route to a 16-7 win Monday morning.  Freshman Jake Westrich (McKinney, TX) picked up his first career hit in his first official at-bat with a two-run single in the eighth inning.  Classmate Brad Suciu (Zanesville, OH) took the mound, in relief, for the first time as a Mariner and worked a perfect eighth inning.

Alvernia (3-2) posted the first seven runs of the contest as the USMMA defense made five total errors.  USMMA got its first run of the day in the top of the fourth  as Nicholas Kopacka (Saugus, CA) picked up a RBI with a groundout to bring home Danny Collins (Sleepy Hollow, NY).  Grant Foley (Butler, PA) also registered a RBI single for his first collegiate hit, which came in the sixth inning.  However, the Crusaders built a 16-2 cushion heading into the eighth. 

Merchant Marine (0-2) had its best offensive inning in the eighth, hanging up five runs against the Alvernia bullpen.  Nicholas Nalette (Goffstown, NH), Kopacka, and Westrich all contributed to the rally with RBI knocks.  USMMA was not able to keep the momentum in the ninth and the Crusaders took the victory, 16-7.

The USMMA baseball team will retake the field at the Gene Cusic Classic Wednesday, March 6 against Anna Maria.