READING, Pa. - A two-run single in the sixth inning by Nathan Kessler broke a 1-1 tie and Hood College bullpen did the rest as the Blazers beat No. 28/RV Alvernia for the first time in program history. 

Hood improved to 18-1 on the season and 5-1 in the Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth. The Golden Wolves hold an identical conference mark as the Blazers and fell to 13-6. 

Inside the Box Score

• Ryan Atkinson went six innings for the win. The senior limited the Golden Wolves to just four hits and did not walk a batter, striking out five. Jake Howell, Nate Luscombe and Jordan Patterson each pitched scoreless innings to close the game with Patterson notching his second save of the year. 
• Hood's pitching staff did not issue a walk, while the Blazers' lineup drew five bases on balls. 
• Brad Sawyer had two hits. Patterson and Daniel Shepherd both reached via a hit and a walk. Shepherd stole two bases. 

How it Happened

• Four straight batters reached base with two outs in the sixth to allow the Blazers to take the lead. Shepherd then singled and stole second before Dylan Beck walked. After the runners executed a double steal, Daiven Sanchez walked to load the bases. Kessler followed with a single to right field that knocked in both Shepherd and Beck. 
• Howell allowed a leadoff single in the seventh but pitched his way out of the jam with a 163 double play. 
• Luscombe and Patterson followed with scoreless frames to lock down the win. 
• Alvernia had the momentum early. Ben Dubas hit a solo home run in the second and Zack Landy was perfect through 4.2 innings, retiring 14 straight to open the game. 
• With two outs in the fifth, Drake Friend walked to give Hood its first baserunner of the day. He moved to third on a single by Patterson and tied the game on a throwing error by the Golden Wolves. 

Notes

• Dubas and Dillon Dunne each went 2 for 4 for Alvernia. 
• Landy ran into trouble after his fast start and was saddled with the loss. He allowed three runs in seven innings on five hits and three walks. 
• Hood had lost the first nine meetings in program history between the two squads. 

Up Next

The two teams wrap up the season series with a doubleheader at FCC on Saturday, March 31.